NPA rebels attack security firm in Bukidnon

MANILA, Philippines -  Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels attacked a private security firm and seized several firearms and two armored vans in Bukidnon on Friday.

The regional police reported 15 heavily armed men dressed in police uniforms barged into the office of Dasia Security Agency in Hindangon, Barangay Poblacion, Valencia City.

The rebels kidnapped an off duty Army trooper and disarmed a policeman during the raid, initial reports said.

The rebels, posing as policemen, reportedly barged in with a fake warrant to search the place.

They seized two AK-47 rifles, two M16s, two shotguns and three .38 revolvers. They also took off with the security agency’s two armored vans, officials said.

Meanwhile, another group of rebels who were setting up a roadblock nearby kidnapped the still unidentified off duty Army trooper at gunpoint.

The trooper was riding a motorcycle with his wife when he was forced to alight at gunpoint and dragged into the armored van.

The rebels spared the soldier’s wife who was forced down on the ground.

The rebels, however, spared PO1 Emilio Traya of the Maramag police station.

He was passing through the roadblock when the rebels took his service firearm.

“After establishing the true identity of the soldier, the NPAs dragged him, in the presence of his wife, off his motorcycle and hurled him inside one of the armored vehicles,” said Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division.

Officials said the two armored vans were later found abandoned in Barangay Poblacion in Quezon town.

A certain Luvimin Rosos was arrested by the police after several items belonging to the Dasia Security firm were found inside his rented room in Quezon.

Among the items found were surveillance cameras, night vision goggles, sniper’s veil, camouflage raincoat and a flash card containing footages of Dasia, which investigators believe was part of the NPA’s surveillance and planning before they attacked the security agency.

Rosos was suspected to have acted as one of the lookouts during the attack.

“These acts really put to doubt the NPAs’ sincerity in achieving the peace that the entire Filipino nation desires and deserves. While their colleagues are negotiating with the government, these terrorists-cum-extortionists are dealing death, destruction and chaos in our peaceful communities,” Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said.

Last week, some 100 NPA rebels based in Davao region staged simultaneous attacks in Davao City, inflicting huge damage to a ranch and two factories in the city.

The rebels also attacked the police station of Madela in Quirino province, killing a policeman and taking off with high-powered firearms.

On Thursday, the rebels again struck a police detachment in Ambulung, Cagayan and took away four M16 rifles and two 9mm pistols. The rebels also torched the station-issued Mahindra patrol car.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through the government peace panel, has registered its protest against the NPA for the attacks.

AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año said he wanted the series of NPA attacks to be discussed in the next round of peace talks. – With Gerry Lee-Gorit, Ben Serrano