NPA attacks police station in Surigao Sur, two cops hurt

By Ronron
September 23, 2007

Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked early Sunday afternoon the Cantilan Municipal Police Station in Surigao del Sur, the chief of the provincial police said.

According to Sr. Supt. Alex Ga, two policemen were hurt in the incident as they also lost several firearms to the perpetrators estimated to be around 200 in strength.

Ga said the incident happened around 1:30 pm when there were only four policemen present at the police station.

He said the rebels were on board three trucks, one pick up and two vans.

But only those aboard the pick-up and one of the vans attacked the police station since the rest posted as security forces all over the town’s poblacion.

Ga said the attack lasted for about 10 to 15 minutes, since the policemen at the station fired back.

Since outnumbered, two of the policemen were wounded, and the rebels were able to take away 14 M16 rifles, one 9mm, one 38 caliber revolver, three homemade shotguns, and a radio set, Ga said.

Asked why there were only four policemen at the station during the attack, Ga said the rest were still having lunch outside, while there were also others posted in security details in the different parts of the town.

Ga said they will investigate the incident to find out if there were lapses on the part of the municipal police.

He said it was a surprise that the NPA attacked the Cantilan Municipal Police Station because when the communist movement announced their plan for future offensives in Caraga Region following the arrest of Jose Maria Sison in the Netherlands, the authorities thought it would take place in the southern or central part of the province.

The 7,100-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside in the last 38 years to topple the government for the revolutionary objectives.

The government has vowed to make the group significantly incapable by 2010./DMS