Communist insurgents in the hinterland villages of Davao in Mindanao during a non-combat activity. (AP File Photo)
DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur – Police and military authorities tagged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels behind Wednesday’s ambush that killed four police officers and injured another in Bansalan, Davao del Sur.
The ambush took place a day after President Rodrigo Duterte said back-channel talks with the rebels have started for the possible resumption of stalled peace negotiations.
On February 4, the President scrapped the talks following clashes with the NPA in Mindanao.
Senior Supt. Samuel Gadingan, the Davao del Sur police chief, said a team of policemen from Bansalan and the Scene of Crime Operatives (SOCO) provincial office was heading for the hinterland village of Barangay Sibayan in Bansalan to investigate a murder when they were fired at around 6 a.m.
Instantly killed were: Police Officer 1 Rolly Belayo, Police Officer 1 Joe Narvasa, Police Officer 1 Saro Mangutara – all members of the Bansalan police station; and Police Officer 3 Jayden May Rabor of the Davao del Sur SOCO. The injured policeman was identified as Police Officer 3 Allen Arnado.
Gadingan said the policemen, on a patrol car and another vehicle, were only about 100 meters from Sibayan when they were attacked.
Lt. Col. Marion Angcao, commander of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion with jurisdiction over the area, said they learned that the murder the lawmen were about to investigate happened on Tuesday (Mar. 7).
He said Barangay Sibayan chairman Eddie Dicdican informed the police of the murder.
“The police were only able to respond today (Wednesday) because they received the report on the murder on Tuesday night,” Angcao said.
He said NPA was likely behind the ambush of the police personnel because it has been the only armed group operating in the area.
“Prior to the ambush, there had been reported sightings of NPA rebels near the barangay,” Angcao said.
He said the ambush could be in retaliation for the February 25 clash in Barangay Alegre, also in Bansalan, which led to the fall of a major NPA encampment in the village.
Gadingan said the police also suspected the NPA rebels as responsible for the attack..
Soldiers and elements of the police’s provincial safety battalion have been conducting operation against the suspects, Angcao said.
Lt. Col. Harold Argamosa, commander of the 39th Infantry Battalion based in Makilala, North Cotabato – an area adjacent to Bansalan – said he has deployed his troops to intercept the suspects.
He said soldiers under his unit, who were deployed in other North Cotabato towns, have also been alerted.
Bansalan shares borders with Makilala and Kidapawan City, where the NPA’s Front Committee 51 is known to operate. (With a report from Williamor Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao, INQ) SFM