Police Station in Agusan del Sur Attacked by NPA

July 2, 2009

by: striker_jem

Butuan – Santa Josefa Municipal Police Station in Agusan del Sur was harrassed by more or less 40 New People’s Army yesterday at 9:15 in the morning.

Reports released by Police Senior Supt. Nestor Fajura, Chief of the Operations Division of Police Regional Office 13, firefights lasted only for 10 minutes as the NPAs fled immediately to evade the arrival of other members of the police station who were earlier dispatched to respond to the request for assistance of the Principal of Santa Josefa National High School.

Carted away are 3-M16 rifles, 1-M14 rifle and 1-9mm pistol of the policemen who were left in the station. No one was reported injured, missing or dead.

It was reported that the policemen inside the police station were caught surprised and were not able to retaliate since there are many civillians inside the Association of Barangay Captain Building just beside the police station where other offices are housed.

“Deceptively, the NPAs poised as army troops wearing camouflage uniform, parked their vehicle in front of the station and rushed inside. They also timed their raid during office hours in utter disregard of the safety of the innocent civilians”, said PSSupt. Fajura.

Government troops from Agusan del Sur Provincial Mobile Groups, the 14th Regional Mobile Group and the Philippine Army immediately reinforced the beleaguered station.

Blocking points were set and pursuit operations are ongoing. Security of vital installations in the area was also heightened.

Meanwhile, Police Chief Superintendent Jaime Milla, Police Regional Director has directed the conduct of an in-depth investigation to determine whether Police Inspector Elizer Pido, Santa Josefa Chief of Police and his men have incurred administrative or criminal liability under the circumstances.

He also ordered all police units to be extra vigilant and intensify intelligence gathering.