NPA owns up to Cagayan ambush

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The New People’s Army (NPA) yesterday owned up to last Sunday’s ambush that left five policemen dead in a remote Cagayan town. 

This developed as Chief Superintendent Francisco Villaroman, Cagayan Valley police director, said murder charges were being readied against the ambushers led by David Soriano, alias Rosa, of Cagayan NPA’s Danilo Ben Command.

In an e-mailed statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines even claimed to have seized four M-16 rifles and a caliber .38 revolver from the slain cops.

Killed in the ambush were Inspector Antonino Rueco, police chief of Rizal town; his wife, SPO2 Maryann Rueco, and nephew PO1 Erminio Rueco as well as PO2 Jose Baquiran and PO1 Joven Jimenez. Wounded was SPO4 Edison Lagua.

Inspector Rueco was set to receive his promotion in last Monday’s flag-raising ceremonies at the regional police headquarters at Camp Adduru in Tuguegarao City, some 60 kilometers east of Rizal town, when his group was waylaid.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo visited the wake of the slain police officers and checked on Lagua’s condition at the St. Paul Hospital in Tuguegarao Monday night.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo also paid his respects to the slain policemen yesterday, and called on the National Democratic Front, the NPA’s political arm, to show good faith in the peace negotiations.

“The government can talk about peace terms the communists want, but how can we talk about the future of those children orphaned and wives who are widowed?” Robredo said. – With Raymund Catindig