Suspected Reds raid gov’t armory facility in Davao

By Ronron
April 8, 2007

Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) raided an armory of a government facility before dawn of Sunday in Davao del Norte province, police officials said.

Region 11 Police Director Chief Supt. Andres Caro said a total of 99 “vintage and unserviceable firearms” were successfully carted away by the estimated 30 perpetrators from the armory of the Davao Penal Colony (DAPECOL) in Dujali town following the bold raid at 1:30 am.

The DAPECOL is a facility of the Bureau of Corrections under the Department of Justice where criminals convicted by regional trial courts in the province are confined.

Caro said the suspects managed to gain entry into the compound after pretending to be military men belonging to Task Force DAVAO.

“They deceived the guard at the gate. They wore military uniforms, with patches of TF Davao. And then, they pretended that their vans are having some mechanical problem. So when the guard approached them, they immediately pointed a gun at him,” Caro said in Filipino.

Caro said the suspected rebels then proceeded to the armory where they got 45 carbines; three M16 rifles; five caliber 38 revolvers; 46 shotguns; five pairs of handcuff; and undetermined number of live ammunitions.

The guerillas escaped aboard two vans, said Region 11 Police spokesman Chief Insp. Querubin Manalang, Jr.

They are now being traced by elements of the Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office and the Philippine Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion. Caro said the perpetrators are believed to be under the command of local rebel leader Commander Paragu.

The incident immediately prompted the entire Region 11 Police to be placed on full alert status yesterday morning, Caro said.

Caro admitted that they already had hints about the NPA raid after receiving intelligence reports that the rebels bought military uniforms.

The 7,100-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside in the last 38 years.

Peace talks with the government bogged down in August 2004 after it was tagged as a terrorist group by foreign governments.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to crush the communist movement by 2010 when she ends her term./DMS