NPA owns slay of cop in Agusan del Norte

BUTUAN CITY — The New People’s Army (NPA) has claimed responsibility for the killing of a police officer in Carmen town in Agusan del Norte on Wednesday, May 22.

Omar Ibarra, spokesperson of the NPA Guerrilla Front 4A under the North Central Mindanao Region Committee, said they wanted to “arrest” Police Executive Master Sergeant Jimmer Omisol but was killed when he resisted.

Omisol, who was assigned at the Carmen Municipal Police Station, was gunned down in Barangay Tagcatong around 6:30 p.m.

“The NPA owns the death of Omisol, but our main motive was only to arrest the police officer to formally answer the accusations laid against him by the people,” said Ibarra in a statement released May 23.

The statement added: “When Omisol was going out of his vehicle, our operatives approached him and asked [him] to come with them but he showed motive to fire on our operatives, so they have no choice but to shot him first.”

Ibarra said they wanted Omisol to face an NPA “tribunal” supposedly to answer complaints that the policeman was allegedly involved in planting drug evidence against civilians who were targets for arrest, in planting firearms on those tagged as communists, and for allegedly “forcing those arrested to drink urine before bringing them to detention.”

The Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13) called the killing “barbaric.”

“The entire police force condemn[s] in the strongest manner the latest hostility launched by the [Communist Party of the Philippines]-NPA on PEMS Jimmer Omisol. This dastardly and barbaric act prove[s] that there is no justice and rule of law in the armed struggle,” PRO 13 director Brigadier General Gilberto Cruz said in a statement.

“The rebels tried to kidnap our police officer but sensing he was in danger, he was able to shot and hit his assailants as evidenced by the bloodstains at the waiting shed where the five NPA members serving as look-outs were waiting. Although outnumbered, the hero cop fought until his last breath,” added Cruz.

Cruz negated the NPA’s claim that painted Omisol as an abusive policeman, as he was known to be a humble and hardworking police officer. Even in his previous assignments, he did not have records of illegal activities, he said.

“The statement of Ibarra is a fabricated story to justify the evil acts of his men,” said Cruz.

Omisol’s killing happened a week after a top leader of Guerrilla Front 4A was killed with his son in Buenavista town, Agusan del Norte.

Police Lt. Col. Christian Rafols II, spokesperson of PRO13 said murder charges would be filed against certain NPA personalities “since they have already claimed responsibility for this barbaric action.” (Editor: Leti Z. Boniol)