12 DIE AS NPA REBELS ATTACK MATANAO, DAVSUR POLICE STATION

By Jaime Sinapit

MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE 4 – 10:33 p.m.) The death toll from New People’s Army attacks in Davao del Sur province on Friday that began with the foiled attempt to overrun a town police station rose to 12 after the rebels ambushed pursuing soldiers.

Seven soldiers, including an officer, died and seven others were wounded when a rebel blocking force detonated a landmine in Barangay Asbang that struck a KM250 truck ferrying troops of the 39th Infantry Battalion to Barangay Dunganpekong in Matanao town to take part in the pursuit of the rebel band that had tried to storm the municipal police station around 4:30 a.m.

However, the military only identified six of the dead troops, all enlisted personnel: Sergeant Porras; Coporals Pacionela and Jihani; Privates First Class Palma and Tanjilul; and Private Dayaday. Captain William Alfredo Rodriguez, spokesman of the 10th Infantry Division, declined to identify the slain officer pending notification of his next of kin but said he died undergoing treatment at the Digos Doctors Hospital.

Wounded were Cpl. Snayatin; PFCs Lingco, Abellana, Alilaya, Pacquiao, Paranal, and Cancan; and Pvt. Samano.

Troops of the 39th IB manning a checkpoint by in Barangay Savoy, also in Matanao, had earlier captured nine suspected guerrillas, who were reportedly retreating after the failed storming of the town police station.

The rebels who attacked the police station left two policemen dead — Police Officer 1 Manolo Booc and PO3 Danny Moalong — and three others — Inspector Renato Uy, PO1 Gilbert Legaspi, and PO1 Sherwin Cadungog — wounded.

One of the three wounded policemen later died in hospital, a military statement later said in an updated official toll.

Troops who responded killed two rebels, one of who was identified as Eleazar de Asis Romero.

Rodriguez said the rebels stole 10 firearms from the police armory in Matanao, a hilly farming town of about 52,000 people.

Earlier, Captain Alberto Caber, spokesman of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said the rebels who attacked the police station belonged to NPA Front 72.

The rebels, who were clad in camouflage uniforms, arrived on an Elf truck, a jeep and motorcycles.

The Tactical Operations Group 11 of the Philippine Air Force sent two MG520 attack helicopters to provide air support for pursuing ground troops.

Two UH-IH helicopters were also sent to provide support.

The rebels are believed to belong to the NPA’s Front 72 Mt. Alip Command led by Felix Armodia, alias Ka Jing, who in December vowed to launch more rebel offensives.

Monday’s raid came several days after another NPA unit from the Southern Mindanao Party Command exploded a landmine in the nearby town of Bansalan, wounding 11 soldiers of the 39th IB and five civilian members of the Davao del Sur provincial rescue and disaster management coordinating council.

The Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee of the CPP-NPA has apologized for the injuries to the civilians. (with reports from Edwin Espejo and Agence France-Presse)