Sunday, April 28, 2019

Rebels' attack on police officer in Iloilo 'desperate move': Army

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 28, 2019): Rebels' attack on police officer in Iloilo 'desperate move': Army


Photo shows the Alimodian Municipal Police Station Highway Police Assistance Desk (HIPAD) in Bancal Village, Iloilo town where a police officer was tied-up and disarmed by members of the New Peoples Army on Saturay (April 27, 2019). (Photo courtesy of DYSI 1323 Super Radyo Iloilo)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the attack of around 15 rebel members against the Highway Police Assistance Desk (HIPAD) of the Alimodian Municipal Police Station in Bancal village, Alimodian town, Iloilo on Saturday was a "desperate move" of the part of the New People’s Army (NPA).
In a phone interview Sunday, Lt. Col. Joel Benedict Batara, commander of the 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) of the Philippine army, said he considers such move of the NPA as desperate.

"They had taken advantage of the police personnel. They are desperate to show that they are powerful but the truth is they are cowards and traitors," Batara said.

The fact that the incident was undertaken by the rebels in a populated area manifests that the NPA uses the public as human shield.

"They do this in a populated area so that the responding troops cannot shoot in fear that civilians around will get hurt," he said.

Lt. Danilo Noca, Alimodian police chief, said the NPA members tied up and disarmed Cpl. Jhan Jhan Anaya, HIPAD police officer on duty at 4:30 p.m. Friday.

The rebels allegedly rented two tricycles, which they used as their vehicle, at Siol village, Leon town.

Noca said the rebels tied up the drivers of the rented tricycles but they freed them after a few minutes.

Upon arriving at the HIPAD, Anaya, who was at his post outside, was “helpless” as more or less six rebels, three from each side, pounced on him. The rebels eventually tied him with duct tape.

Noca said rebels carted away one M16 rifle and 9mm pistol from the police on duty.

"The rebels fled towards Siol, Leon, which we can say a mountainous area, after the incident," Noca said in a phone interview Sunday.

Two police personnel were supposed to be on duty during the time of the incident but Noca said one police officer was away for some important matter.

Batara, meanwhile, said it is possible that the NPA rebels can do the same at municipal police stations. He said government troops are always reminded to stay on guard because "NPAs are traitors who attack from the back."

Noca said they had added police personnel at the HIPAD and intensified their security at Alimodian Municipal Police Station.

He said the Philippine Army and the PNP, with the Regional Mobile Force Company and Iloilo Mobile Force Company, closely coordinate for hot pursuit operations against the NPA rebels believed to be members of the Southern Front of the Komiteng Rehiyong Panay.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1068386

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