Police, NPA clash in Davao City beach resort

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — A joint police and military operation resulted in an encounter yesterday morning with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels believed to have been holed up in a beach resort in Barangay Talomo in this city. 

No casualty was reported on both government and NPA sides.

Southern Mindanao regional police office director Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales told The STAR that the police team was about to serve five warrants of arrest against a certain Ernie del Pilar, also known as Commander Jeffrey of the NPA’s Pulang Bagani Command 1 and his group at Victorio’s Beach Resort.

The warrants of arrest against Del Pilar were for kidnapping and murder.

Morales said they monitored at least eight other NPA members who were with Del Pilar at the time of the encounter.

Recovered at the crime scene were several firearms, improvised explosive device, mobile phone and ammunition.

“Our troops tried hard to make sure that they could not escape but the rebels escaped,” Morales said.