In this photo taken Nov. 23, 2016, members of the New People's Army communist rebels with face painted to conceal their identities, stand in formation during ceremonies before a news conference held at their guerrilla encampment tucked in the harsh wilderness. AP/File photo
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - School children in hinterland Malibcong town in Abra are still confined to their homes and villages.
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - School children in hinterland Malibcong town in Abra are still confined to their homes and villages.
Classes are still suspended with the ongoing military operations against communist rebels who raided the town police station Sunday night and ambushed the top police chief’s convoy the morning after.
The class suspensions may still be extended, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.
At least 11 elementary schools shut down classes starting Tuesday and would continue until the military and police declare the situation “cleared,” said Georaloy Palao-oy of the DepEd.
Most of the teachers in the affected schools, the education department added, are from other towns and far-flung areas.
The Cordillera police leadership formed a Special Investiation Task Group (SITG) headed by Cordillera police’s deputy regional director for administration Senior Superintendent Gregorio Lim charged to dig deep if there were operational lapses on the part of the policemen.
Around 30 communist guerillas raided the town’s police station temporarily housed at the abandoned home of Malibcong town mayor Benido Bacuyag at around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. They occupied the station for an hour and took away seven M16 assault rifles, three pistols and four mobile phones.
The class suspensions may still be extended, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.
At least 11 elementary schools shut down classes starting Tuesday and would continue until the military and police declare the situation “cleared,” said Georaloy Palao-oy of the DepEd.
Most of the teachers in the affected schools, the education department added, are from other towns and far-flung areas.
The Cordillera police leadership formed a Special Investiation Task Group (SITG) headed by Cordillera police’s deputy regional director for administration Senior Superintendent Gregorio Lim charged to dig deep if there were operational lapses on the part of the policemen.
Around 30 communist guerillas raided the town’s police station temporarily housed at the abandoned home of Malibcong town mayor Benido Bacuyag at around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. They occupied the station for an hour and took away seven M16 assault rifles, three pistols and four mobile phones.
Reinforcing policemen headed by Abra police director Senior Superintedent Alberto Tagum were ambushed along their way to the town proper at around 11 a.m. Monday.
Police Officer 2 Jessie Triniad, Police Officers 1 Marlon dela Paz, Gerome Baldos, Kennon Sanggoy and Von Harold Layao, though hurt in the exchange of gunfire with rebels, were declared safe. Tagum was unhurt.
Police Officer 2 Jessie Triniad, Police Officers 1 Marlon dela Paz, Gerome Baldos, Kennon Sanggoy and Von Harold Layao, though hurt in the exchange of gunfire with rebels, were declared safe. Tagum was unhurt.
Cordillera police director Chief Superintendent Elmo Sarona had reminded all policemen to be alert at all times to prevent similar incidents. He ordered all chiefs of police to intensify their crime prevention efforts and strengthen security of their personnel in their areas of responsibility and to further step up their anti-criminality strategies.
Abra Gov. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos said all policemen deployed in Malibcong were pulled out and relieved with those coming from the Cordillera regional headquarters.
Abra is on heightened alert at present.
Abra Gov. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos said all policemen deployed in Malibcong were pulled out and relieved with those coming from the Cordillera regional headquarters.
Abra is on heightened alert at present.
Tokhang prompted Sunday raid
Meanwhile, communist guerillas who admitted doing the attack said complaints of local villagers against the police’s “Oplan Tokhang” prompted Sunday’s raid at the headquarters of the Mablicong town police.
Martin Montana, spokesperson of the New Peoples Army-Ilocos said Sunday’s raid was meant to punish the police for abuses on villagers during various “Oplan Tokhang” operations and disrespect on indigenous socio-political structures on villages.
According to Montana, majority of the villagers in Malibcong cannot erase in their memories the local police station’s role in defending the interest of warlords and the Cellophil Resources Corporation during the Marcos regime which exploited their natural resources, grabbed their ancestral lands and trampled on their human rights until now.
“Hindi lang sa Malibcong, kundi sa halos sa lahat ng bayan ng Abra ay ganito ang papel ng kapulisan,” said Montana.
The twin attacks in Abra were the latest attack by the NPA in the Cordillera after rebels torched two trucks of the Philex Mining Corporation in Itogon, Benguet on the third week of February.
“Hindi lang sa Malibcong, kundi sa halos sa lahat ng bayan ng Abra ay ganito ang papel ng kapulisan,” said Montana.
The twin attacks in Abra were the latest attack by the NPA in the Cordillera after rebels torched two trucks of the Philex Mining Corporation in Itogon, Benguet on the third week of February.
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