Cop chief, 4 others abducted by rebels

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.
The New People’s Army (NPA) has claimed responsibility over the abduction of the station commander of Paquibato Police Station in Davao City and his four subordinates on Saturday morning.
NPA Regional Operations Command Southern Mindanao Region spokesperson Rigoberto F. Sanchez said that the 1st Pulang Bagani Battalion Red fighters ‘arrested the police’ the five cops on April 16.
Abducted were Chief Insp. Leonardo V. Tarongoy, station commander of Paquibato Police Station, Police Officer (PO)3 Rosenie L. Cabuenas, PO3 Rudolph Y. Pacete, PO2 Neil C. Arellano, and PO3 Abdul Azis A. Ali .
Sanchez said that prior to the capture of the police officers, the NPA raided the 72nd Infantry Battalion detachment around 7:00 am on the same day in Sitio Quimanao, Barangay Salapawan, Paquibato District.
The rebels seized nine Garand rifles, eight M14 rifles, 78 clips of Garand ammunition, 30 fully loaded M14 magazines and other military hardware, he claimed.
“By sheer grit and superior command of the situation, the Red fighters were able to take control of the firefight that lasted less than half an hour. Two members of Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) surrendered to the raiding Red Fighters while two others fled during the firefight,” he said.
Around 11:30 in the morning, Sanchez said the NPA fighters positioned a few hundred meters away from the detachment and arrested the five police officers aboard a mobile patrol vehicle and took them as prisoners-of-war (POWs).
Sanchez said the NPA also seized two 9mm pistols and one .45 caliber pistol from the policemen.
“The POWs will be held in custody pending an investigation for possible war crimes and other crimes against the people and the revolutionary movement,” he said.
Earlier reports said the police officers and their patrol vehicle driver were caught by around 50 armed men headed by a certain Commander Jinggoy and brought to unknown direction.
Around 6:00 p.m., the driver was released but he opted to stay in the house of a friend for his security.
The driver turned-over four mobile phones and a tablet owned by the police officers.
The police has yet to release a statement on the incident.