NPA attacks Davao police station, seizes cop chief

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A band of suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas raided a municipal police station in Davao Oriental and seized the police chief on Sunday night.

The rebels escaped after a two-hour firefight, taking with them Chief Inspector Arnold Ongachen, chief of the Gov. Generoso municipal police; a policewoman and a female civilian.

They also carted away seven shotguns, 12 rifles, two 9mm pistols and three undetermined types of firearms.

The attack left a police officer and two detainees wounded, according to Superintendent Antonio Ibot, spokesman for the Davao Oriental police.

Police Officer 3 John Rey Cinco and the detainees were taken to the hospital for treatment while PO3 Edmundo Garido was reported missing.

Reports said around 50 armed men in three trucks and a motorcycle arrived at around 7:45 p.m. and engaged the lawmen in a firefight. One of the armed men, who was holding a megaphone, claimed they were NPA rebels.

“The firefight ended at around 10 p.m. The rebels overran the station as the police officers ran out of bullets,” Ibot said.

Authorities said the rebels suffered casualties, noting bloodstains were found along their escape routes.

Ibot said the rebels escaped in five motorized bancas.

He said reinforcement from the military failed to arrive on time, as the troopers had to scour the route toward the town for ambush points and explosives planted by the rebels.