Efforts intensified to rescue Davao Oriental police

From the Philippine Star (May 30): Efforts intensified to rescue Davao Oriental police

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are intensifying efforts to rescue the Davao Oriental chief of police who was kidnapped by suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) during a dangerous attack Sunday evening at the Gov. Generoso Police Station.

In a phone interview with Davao Oriental Police Director Superintendent Harry Espela, he said there were some 50 men carrying high-powered firearms around 7 p.m. at the Gov. Generoso (Sigaboy) Police Station in Davao Oriental on May 29.

"Their motive has yet to be determined but we are hand-in-hand with the army in finding our fellow Chief Inspector Arnold Ongachen," Espela said.

Ongachen, police chief of the Gov. Generoso Police Station, was the only one of the 14 on-duty officers who was captured by fleeing rebels who were then onboard three pick-up trucks and one elf truck.

Residents who witnessed the harassment revealed to authorities that the rebels initiated their attack with a call to the police officers who were inside the station, saying, "Armas lang among kinahanglan, kabalo mi nga naa moy pamilya ulian tanan (We know you have your families waiting for you at home, we only need your firearms)".

A firefight, however, ensued between the two opposing groups. It lasted for about two hours after the Gov. Generoso police allegedly ran out of ammunition.

 Outgoing Municipal Mayor Vicente Orencio, in an interview earlier today, said that it was the first "rebel attack" in his area since he was elected in the position in 2007.

"Nahutdan sila ug bala mao nag surrender na lang, dayun gikuha sa NPA ilang station commander para siguro makaikyas ug dali-dali (The policemen surrendered because they ran out of bullets. The NPAs took their station commander so they could escape)."

 PO3 John Rey Cinco and a civilian, who sustained gunshot wounds from the attack, were brought to a hospital in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Six armalite rifles and some food supplies were taken by the NPAs before they sped off towards the southern part of the municipality to Barangay Luzon.

They also chanted, "Mabuhay ang NPA!" through their megaphones upon leaving.

 Espelo denied rumors that there were no missing officers after the attack. "We are focusing on our hot pursuit operation to locate where the rebels took Ongachen," he said.

Troops from the 28th Infantry Battalion and the local police are leading the pursuit operations that started just hours after the incident took place.

Other forces are conducting tight security on checkpoints installed all over the province.

The AFP also alerted navy ships in the area to conduct naval patrol and dispatched two helicopters to conduct air surveillance.

As of 2:47 p.m. today, the authorities recovered three get-away vehicles with bloodstains at least 25 kilometers away from the area of the firefight.

Elements from the Regional Public Safety Battallion (RPSB) were sent for reinforcement.

http://beta.philstar.com/nation/2016/05/30/1588401/efforts-intensified-to-rescue-davao-oriental-police-chief