AUTHORITIES yesterday rejected the claim of the New People’s Army (NPA) that abducted Chief Insp. Arnold Ongachen was involved in illegal drug trade in the province of Davao Oriental.
The NPA, in owning up the Sunday attack on Gov. Generoso Police Station in which they abducted the police chief, claims they targeted the town police station “based on the people’s popular demand to punish the protectors of rampant drug trafficking in the area” and they believed the police and military forces together with the provincial officials “are in unholy alliance with drug syndicates.”
Chief Insp. Andrea dela Cerna, spokesperson of Police Regional Office XI, said the NPA claim is purely propaganda against the law enforcement agency and local government of Governor Generoso.
“We can’t just believe their allegations that our police chief and provincial officials have involvement in the illegal activity,” dela Cerna told TIMES. “This is just a part of their propaganda.”
Dela Cerna was supported by Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesperson of the army’s 10th Infantry Division.
“We have no reports on that and we have nothing to do with their claim,” Batchar said.
Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesperson of the NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command (Merardo Arce Command), said reports they received have “identified the municipality of Gov. Generoso as a gateway of illegal drug trade in the province.”
“In fact, Red fighters confiscated a sachet of shabu (methamphetamine) from Ongachen following the raid,” Sanchez said in a press statement.
The NPA added that Davao Oriental Gov. Cora Malanyaon and Rep. Nelson Dayanghirang “know well of the prevalence of illegal drugs in their province. Their silence and inaction on this widespread problem only confirm the masses’ belief of the reactionary officials’ unholy alliance with drug syndicates.”
Sanchez add that the “NPA’s planned raid of a shabu laboratory in Tibanban, Gov. Generoso was sabotaged by the troops of the 28thIB.”
The rebels assured good health to Ongachen whom they are holding as its prisoner of war, but said the police chief will be investigated for possible violation of human rights and other war crimes.
Sanchez said that “poor peasants and lumads have complained that policemen have long protected the landgrabbing activities of prominent families in the province.”
The NPA commander said they seized 11 firearms — six M16 rifles, one M14 rifle, and five pistols — during the attack.
The statement said that pursuing 28th IB-Philippine Army suffered several casualties when they were hit by the NPA’s command detonated explosives at 6 a.m. of Monday.
Sanchez said the on-going so-called rescue operations will “only endanger the safety of Ongachen and prove that the fascist AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) has no qualms for the safety of their own officer. Worse, their continued military operations only sow terror and burden to the peasants and Lumads in the area.”
“At the close of Oplan Bayanihan, the NPA remains committed to its task of serving the poor and marginalized peasant masses and Lumads. It continues to wage war against the enemies of the people, especially AFP and PNP troops who victimize and terrorize the masses. It is the sole army that conducts punitive actions against drug lords, landgrabbers, abusive big miners and criminal syndicates. It is the People’s army that mete out justice against those who plunder the land, the people, and the youth,” the NPA statement concluded.
No tolerance
While saying that NPA drug link claim on Ongachen is baseless, the police regional office said they are not tolerating officers who are into illegal drugs.
“We are not tolerating the act of policemen in illegal drug activity,” dela Cerna said. “If (there is evidence), then a case will be filed against them and appropriate sanctions or dismissal from service will be imposed.”
Dela Cerna said they have not received any complaint that the Gov. Generoso police personnel are into illegal drugs.
“We have not received complaint from the public regarding police personnel in illegal drugs,” dela Cerna said. “We know incoming Pres. Rodrigo Duterte is strictly against it.”
But the police spokesperson said they have to validate the NPA claim on Ongachen.
Not ours
The military denied the NPA claim that there was a casualty in the government side during the pursuit operation.
“It’s not true that we have casualties,” Batchar said. “Actually they suffered casualties based on the bloodstains found in the vehicles they used.”
Authorities already recovered four vehicles used during the attack. These included a for-hire Toyota Hilux, a Mitsubishi Strada, a Mitsubishi elf and a motorized boat.
On Wednesday’s AFP-PNP press conference, dela Cerna said they are still trying to contact the owner of the Mitsubishi elf.
The owners of the vehicles, apparently stolen, are from Davao Oriental, Davao Del Norte and Barangay Catalunan Pequeño in Davao City.
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