Duterte calls on NPA to release Davao Oriental town police chief

DAVAO CITY – President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has called on the communist New People’s Army to release the police officer it abducted in Governor Generoso town in Davao Oriental on May 22.

“May I ask them, now, if they are listening, release the chief of police,” he said.

“If he has not done anything wrong, release him immediately,” Duterte added.

Communist rebels attacked the police station in Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, wounding a policeman and taking with them the town’s police chief, Chief Insp. Arnold Ongachen.

Senior Supt. Harry Espela, Davao Oriental police chief, said the attackers who swooped down on the police station arrived on board an Elf truck and two pickup trucks, immediately firing at the facility.
Officers manning the station fought back, but were overwhelmed as they ran out of ammunition.

He said Ongachen was at his quarters when the rebels arrived.

The armed attackers then proceeded to the station’s armory and carted away an undetermined number of weapons, bullets and other valuables, before fleeing.

Governor Generoso, also known as Sigaboy, is an eastern coastal town, more than 50 kilometers from provincial capital of Mati City.  SFM