Rebels attack Arayat police outpost; 2 dead

ARAYAT, Pampanga — Some 30 suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels swooped down on a police detachment in Barangay San Antonio here last Friday night, killing a militiaman and a civilian and critically wounding three others, including a policeman.

Senior Superintendent Delfin Respicio, Arayat police chief, said the guerrillas arrived on board a six-wheeler truck at about 9:30 p.m. and immediately fired at the police Kababayan Center, where some policemen, members of the Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and civilians were watching television.

Although caught by surprise, some of the militiamen were able to return fire, but they were later overpowered.

Killed in the attack were CAFGU member Freddie Briones, 47, of Barangay San Antonio, and civilian Francis Zablan, 23, of Plazang Luma this town, Respicio said.

Wounded were SPO1 Senon Salangan; Benigno de Leon, councilor of Barangay San Antonio; and another militiaman, Rolando Lopez.

Seeing those manning the police detachment either dead or wounded, some of the rebels barged inside and carted away three M-16 rifles and one M-14 rifle from the victims. The rebels fled on foot, leaving behind their truck.

Respicio said some guerrillas might have been hit, as shown by the bloodstains in their bullet-riddled truck.

In another development, military authorities have expressed concern over reports that several students from the Baler High School and Aurora School of Technology in Baler, Aurora have been missing since the March 31 clash in the mountains of Dipaculao town.