NPAs seize guns in Palawan police station raid

Camp Vicente Lim, Laguna , Philippines  – At least 50 New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas raided a police community precinct in Dumaran, Palawan and seized five firearms from policemen yesterday morning, authorities said.

Senior Superintendent Aurelio Trampe, Palawan police director, said the four policemen on-duty were caught unawares and had no choice but to yield their firearms, including two 9-mm pistols, two caliber .45 pistols, and an Armalite M-16 rifle.

Reports said the rebels, believed to be members of the NPA’s Komiteng Pangprobinsya-Palawan, swooped down on the police station in Barangay Sta. Teresita, Dumaran town at around 7:30 a.m.

The raid lasted for 15 to 20 minutes before the rebels fled toward Barangay Capayas in Roxas, Palawan, police said.

No one was reported hurt in the incident.

Joint elements of the Marines and the Palawan police launched a hot pursuit operation against the fleeing rebels.

Meanwhile, two NPA leaders in Camarines Sur surrendered to authorities last Wednesday, apparently to be reunited with their families.

Lt. Col. Generoso Bolina, assistant chief of the Unified Command Staff of the Southern Luzon Command, identified the rebel returnees as Jolito Caneso, 33, alias Ka Dandoy, vice commanding officer of the Milisya ng Bayan in Barangay San Francisco, Bula, Camarines Sur.

Caneso’s brother, Benjamin, 34, alias Ka Laki, 34, a courier and collector of the NPA’s Vicente Avocado Command, also gave himself up to 1Lt. Keenan Arguelles of the Army’s 42nd Infantry Brigade.

In Masbate, troopers of the Army’s 9th Infantry Battalion seized an M-16 rifle after an encounter with the insurgents in Sitio Lupa, Barangay San Carlos, Palanas town last Tuesday morning.   – With Ed Amoroso