Army troopers in pursuit of NPA rebels who attacked Agusan del Norte town

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY——-Army troopers are pursuing a group of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who opened fire at a police station in Sison town, Surigao del Norte last Jan. 28.

Capt. Joash Pramis of the Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade, said troops from the 29th Infantry Battalion are now going after the rebels. The attack on the police station disrupted civilian activities in the village of San Pedro last Thursday.

Pramis said there were a scheduled mass wedding and a gathering of senior citizens who are to receive assistance from the social welfare department at a gym near the Sison police station when the harassment happened.

He said local government offices are also located near the police station.

Sison Mayor Karissa Fetalvero-Paronia, speaking to government media, branded the NPA harassment as “terrorism to the highest degree.”

She noted that the elderly who were gathered in the gym as well as the pregnant women having a consultation at the rural health center quivered in fear at the height of the attack.

Pramis estimated that there were about 10 rebels who exchanged gunfire with police officers and soldiers.

The Caraga regional police said the attack lasted for some 15 minutes.

In a separate interview, Maj. Rodulfo Cordero Jr., spokesperson of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said the NPA fighters responsible for harassing the town police may have organized themselves into smaller cells after the incident to avoid detection.

“They don’t stay in one place. They will consolidate if they have a target, and will disperse in small groups afterward,” Cordero said.

“It’s possible they want to send a message that they are still relevant. They want to project their presence since people have already withdrawn their support to the NPA,” he added.

/MUF