PNP foils NPA’s sinister plot in SurSur

From the Philippine Information Agency (Mar 23): PNP foils NPA’s sinister plot in SurSur

The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Surigao del Sur had the belief that it foiled the evil plan of the New People’s Army (NPA) to “sow terror” after overrunning its position in Purok 1, Barangay Tambis, Barobo town, 105 kilometers, south, this city.

At around 1:30 p.m. on March 21, a 30-minute firefight ensued between state forces and rebel groups when Police Chief Inspector (PCI) Manolo Andrew Agcaoili, chief of police (COP) of Barobo Municipal Police Station (MPS), mustered his men together with other PNP forces to conduct a clearing operation.

Coordination was likewise made with the 75th Infantry Battalion (75IB) of the Philippine Army (PA) under Lt. Col. Wilfredo Amoma, which he said had done its part to keep the rebels at bay and not to do more harm in the community.

Agcaoili said the successful operation was jointly carried out together with the 1st Maneuver Company, Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) 13 led by PSInsp. Mawi Arcilla. Also, a little later, reinforcement troops from Agusan del Sur Provincial Public Safety Company, 3rd Maneuver Company, PNP-Special Action Force (SAF), and 11th Special Action Company (SAC) arrived to join the fray.

Earlier, the police officer admitted it had been tipped off about the activity of some highly suspicious armed men believed to be members of the rebel groups roaming around the area. However, sightings had been reported to be there for a couple of weeks already.

Upon arrival, an improvised explosive device (IED) went-off, breaking the windshield of one of the police cars. The enemy also started firing upon the troops which signaled the onset of the fierce gun battle, PCI Agcaoili stressed. The area where the IED was blown up was only three meters away from the national highway, he added. The Barobo town COP also said that the explosive could have been aimed at anybody, citing “To whom it may concern.”

No one was hurt on the government side, but the police chief indicated that the pack of rebels, estimated to be at some 20 to 30 members, could have sustained injuries.

Recovered from the clash site were four gallons of gasoline, four black tents, one black hammock, one crumpled electrical wire, one unit black Nokia cellphone, one metal shrapnel, two flashlights, and a lot more of personal belongings, including a pack of sanitary napkin, Agcaoili bared.

The Barobo police chief had linked the presence of rebels to the upcoming March 29 NPA anniversary, who, he believed seeking to mark their occasion with a bang.

The armed group who had been operating in the area belongs to Guerilla Front Committee (GFC) 19A headed by a certain “Ian” under the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Command (NEMRC), Agcaoili confirmed.

However, he clarified that an in-depth investigation had been ongoing in order to identify in particular the persons behind the plot for the filing of appropriate charges.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1741490231552/pnp-foils-npa-s-sinister-plot-in-sursur