Cop 'punished' by NPA in Sagada

From ABS-CBN (Feb 5): Cop 'punished' by NPA in Sagada

A cop was injured after he was shot by members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Barangay Poblacion, Sagada, Mt. Province on Monday.

The victim was identified as SPO3 Wilfredo Degay. According to PSSupt. Oliver Enmodias of Mt. Province Provincial Police Office, Degay came from the Etag Festival in the town center when he was ambushed by armed men.

Degay sustained four gunshot wounds from a caliber .45 and an M-16.

The Leonardo Pacsi Command of the NPA took responsibility for the ambush.

In a statement released Tuesday, the rebels said they were punishing Degay who "continuously spearheaded intelligence operations against the revolutionary movement in the Province and the Cordillera region."

"A special unit under the Leonardo Pacsi Command operating in the Mountain Province implemented the death sentence on Willie Degay, a native of Bangaan, Sagada and an active agent of the Philippine National Police-Regional Intelligence Unit (PNP-RIU)-14," the group said in its statement.

The NPA also blamed Degay for numerous big military operations and campaigns in Mt. province.

"Willie Degay played a vital role in the numerous big military operations and campaigns launched by the 54th Infantry Battalion, 50th IB, RPSB and other units under the 5th Infantry Division and the PNP under Oplan Bantay Laya II and the ongoing Oplan Bayanihan that have devastated and continue to wreak havoc on the lives and properties of the people of Mountain Province. Particularly, he served as a forward scout clearing the way for the Army and PNP in launching troop deployments in the municipalities of Bontoc, Sagada, Tadian and Besao and other revolutionary areas in the Province."

Degay, who is currently recuperating in a hospital, refused to comment on the incident.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/05/15/cop-punished-npa-sagada