MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang condemned yesterday the attack by New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas on police trainees that left one dead and nine others wounded in Mt. Province the other day.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched a pursuit operations against the rebels as investigations showed the ambush was pre-planned.
The Palace said no justification would be acceptable for such action.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the incident was saddening as she noted that the NPA was trying to justify the attack by saying that the victims were being trained to counter insurgency.
Valte said the rebels were giving other excuses, but the fact remains that the victims were unarmed when they were attacked.
“Maybe they should relay their excuses and justification to the families of the victims,†she said over radio dzRB.
Senior Superintendent David Limmong, spokesman for the PNP-Cordillera Administrative Region, said an investigation of the ambush site showed the rebels carefully planned the ambush.
Limmong said investigators found belongings left by the rebels some 50 meters from the ambush site. The NPAs also took away seven M16 and three M14 rifles belonging to the trainees.
He said the rebels also fired a rifle grenade and exploded a bomb during the attack.
“It was a premeditated attack. We condemn this attack. The trainees were mostly women. They were in their athletic uniforms and were carrying unloaded rifles as part of their training,†said Limmong.
Ninety-five police privates, including 70 women and their four trainers were doing their regular morning jogging when NPA rebels opened fire at them in Barangay Kabunagan, Tadian town at about 5:45 a.m., Cordillera police director Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong said.
“For many years, we have had no ambuscades in this area. The area is secured by the Army and our patrols and we are near the town center so we did not expect this attack,†Limmong said.
Police identified the fatality as Police Officer 1 Denver Balabag and the wounded as Inspector Melinium Bantas and PO1s Alexander Dulnuan, Junete Ngalawen, Jasmine Salve, Jefferson Sari, Edison Waguis, Mitchell Malubon, Pawas Daketan and Robin Benito, all belonging to the Regional Public Safety Battalion in the Cordillera Administrative Region.