Albayalde sacks N. Samar chief, regional director after NPA raid

Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde sacked the entire Lapinig police force in northern Samar, including its police chief, as well as the provincial police director, and the Eastern Visayas regional director following an attack by New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents on the Lapinig town hall on Friday.

Two police officers were wounded in the early-morning raid.

Albayalde ordered the relief of Chief Insp. Noli Montebon, chief of the Lapinig police station, and his men for negligence.

He also sacked Senior Supt. Romeo Campomanes, Northern Samar police provincial director; Chief Supt. Mariel Magaway, director of the Eastern Visayas police; and Chief Insp. Juan Byron Leogo, commander of the 2nd Northern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company, pending investigation of the attack.

2 officers wounded

Initial reports to Camp Crame said that at least 100 NPA rebels attacked the town hall and the adjacent police station at 2 a.m.

Police Officer 1 Edison Aguirre and PO2 Gerry Quilicol were wounded in the firefight, the reports said.

The insurgents carted away several firearms, cash, cell phones, and laptop computers from the town hall and police station.

They fled to a mountainous area near the town with military and police contingents in the province in hot pursuit.—JAYMEE T. GAMIL