Quantcast
Article Index |Advertise | Mobile | RSS | Wireless | Newsletter | Archive | Corrections | Syndication | Contact us | About Us| Services
 
Sun, Jul 05, 2009 06:21 AM Philippines      25°C to 33°C
 
  Breaking News :    
Advertisement
Robinsons Land Corp.
BPINOY

INQUIRER ALERT
Get the free INQUIRER newsletter
Enter your email address:

 
Breaking News / Regions Type Size: (+) (-)
You are here: Home > News > Breaking News > Regions

  ARTICLE SERVICES      
     Reprint this article     Print this article  
    Send as an e-mail     Send Feedback  
    Post a comment   Share  






imns



(UPDATE) 50 ‘peasants’ raid Davao Oriental cop station

By Dennis Jay Santos, Frinston Lim, Jeffrey M. Tupas
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 13:38:00 07/03/2008

Filed Under: Guerrilla activities, Armed conflict, raid

DAVAO CITY -- They looked like angry peasants -- complete with placards bearing anti-government slogans -- and authorities thought they were just out to stage a demonstration at the municipal hall of Banay-Banay in Davao Oriental.

But authorities were wrong because the more than 50 "peasants" were armed New People's Army rebels who, after disembarking from two trucks, quickly raided the police station and carted away a number of firearms and wounding a police officer.

Chief Superintendent Andres Caro, Southern Mindanao police head, said the attack happened at around 9 a.m. Thursday. The police station is just beside the municipal hall.

It was learned that the attack happened while employees of the town hall were gathering for a religious fellowship in a building just a few meters away from the police station.

Caro said the rebels were led by Danilo Nodalo, also known as Commander Benjie.

Caro said a firefight that lasted for about 30 minutes ensued between the rebels and the police elements on duty.

He identified the wounded police as Police Officer 3 Abdulnasser Persian who was hit by a bullet in the thigh.

The rebels took six M16 rifles, two 9-millimeter pistols and a .22 caliber revolver.

Tony Colmenares, a municipal employee, said the rebels apparently outnumbered the police officers who were on duty. In a radio interview, he said the rebels encircled the police station.

Colmenares, who was one of those who attended the fellowship, said the rebels asked them to drop to the ground. Some of his colleagues ran towards the rice fields out of fear.

Major Armand Rico, spokesman of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said the raid was designed to divert the attention of the police and military from another unit of the NPA who attacked two mining tunnels in Diwalwal, Compostela Valley Province early morning Thursday.

Rico said at least 20 fully armed NPA rebels simultaneously raided the Azarez and JBMC tunnels, disarming the police officers deployed to guard the tunnels.

"It was clearly a diversionary tactic of the NPA to ease the pressure of the continuous combat operations in the area," Rico said.

The military and police have launched pursuit operations against the rebels.



Copyright 2009 Mindanao Bureau. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



Share


OTHER STORIES:



  ^ Back to top

© Copyright 2001-2009 INQUIRER.net, An INQUIRER Company

The INQUIRER Network: HOME | NEWS | SPORTS | SHOWBIZ & STYLE | TECHNOLOGY | BUSINESS | OPINION | GLOBAL NATION | Site Map
Services: Advertise | Buy Content | Wireless | Newsletter | Low Graphics | Search / Archive | Article Index | Contact us
The INQUIRER Company: About the Inquirer | User Agreement | Link Policy | Privacy Policy

Advertisement
Megaworld
Cityland
BizLinq
Xoom
Philippine Fiesta