NPA raids Siargao Island, burns 2 cell towers

Surigao City (30 June) -- Communist guerrillas who identified themselves as Pulang Diwata Command -Bagong Hukbong Bayan of Surigao del Norte simultaneously attacked and raided Dapa and General Luna Municipal Police Stations and burned 2 globe cellular phone transmission towers in the island of Siargao all of Surigao del Norte last Saturday, June 28 at around 10:30 PM.

Initial reports bared more or less sixty (60) fully armed men and women clad in black uniforms and riding in six (6) vans stormed Dapa MPS and swiftly disarmed the six policemen who were on duty at the time and announced a raid then ordered all shocked and helpless policemen to lie prone on the floor. Raiders carted away from Dapa MPS six (6) 9MM pistol, one (1) cal.38 revolvers, and three (3) M16 armalite rifles.

They also ransacked nearby government offices situated within the Municipal Hall's compound and destroyed computers and other facilities of Dapa Fire Station, Dapa Water District, Dapa Municipal Circuit and Trial Court, the local offices of the Social Security System, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Public Attorney's Office.

Allegedly, the raiders were also seen distributing propaganda materials/leaflets to local residents of Dapa containing list of issues on 160 hectare land, lay-off of casual employees, illegal drugs, and illegal gambling against Congressman Francisco Matugas and Dapa Mayor Peter Ruaya.

Also, similar attacked from NPA communist rebels raided CAFGU detachment in Brgy. Catangnan in Gen. Luna and General Luna Municipal Police Station and carted away six service firearms, and one M-16 armalite rifle.

Police reports claimed the General Luna Municipal Police Station, led by its chief of police Adrian Recentes Antonio, was able to put-up a firefight for more or less 15 minutes before being overrun by the Communist terrorists.

A certain PO1 William Montilla Dayday was wounded and is presently confined in a hospital.

In a related development, two policemen from the Regional Mobile Group were reportedly killed as clashes between government forces and the rebels continued in Claver town where government forces have conducted blocking operation against NPA rebels fleeing the military pursuit on Siargao Island. They are SPO1 Serafin Manungas and Police Inspector Ricky Arado. Two policemen were also injured, they are PO1 Keazer Francis and PO1 Boboy Bagnol.

Hot pursuit operations are presently conducted in the area to capture the remaining rebels. (Fryan E. Abkilan, PIA-Surigao del Norte)

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