"4 Agusan cops, civilian hurt in NPA attack" - 22 October 2010 (Friday)

4 Agusan cops, civilian hurt in NPA attack

By Cecille Suerte Felipe

The Philippine Star

Friday, October 22, 2010

MANILA, Philippines - Four policemen and a civilian were wounded in an ambush staged by 30 suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Agusan del Sur the other day.

Reports reaching Camp Crame identified those wounded as Chief Inspector Apollo Abao, SPO2 Mellardo Lumain, PO3 Leo Rhoderick Urbiztondo, PO2 Marcial Corvera, and Rosalie Rufon, a barangay secretary.

Police said the police officers were on their way back to their headquarters after providing security during the distribution of land titles in Barangay Mabuhay, Prosperidad town when they were attacked.

The lawmen shot it out with the suspected rebels for about 10 minutes but they were overpowered.

Reds on rampage; 5 killed

by Gemi Formaran & Alfred Dalizon

People’s Journal – www.journal.com.ph

Friday, October 22, 2010

A NEW People’s Army rebel was killed in Sorsogon while four policemen were killed in an NPA ambush in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur Wednesday.

In Sorsogon, the unidentified NPA rebel was killed while his two comrades were wounded in a five-minute firefight with Army troops in Barangay Sta. Rosa, Barcelona.

Col. Generoso Bolina, spokesman of the Southern Luzon Command, said the unidentified fatality was still clutching a Baby Armalite rifle when retrieved by troopers. His two wounded companions escaped.

Lt. Col. Santiago Enginco, commander of the Army's 49th Infantry Battalion in Sorsogon, said he dispatched a squad of troops led by 1Lt. Sandro Sereno after receiving a text message from a villager that the rebels were campaigning for their favored candidates.

As the troops approached, the rebels opened fire, prompting them to retaliate, hitting the three rebels and Emmanuel Enanu, 10, who sustained minor injuries. He was treated by Army medics.

The troops recovered a Baby Armalite rifle, a .45 pistol, a hand grenade, a rifle grenade, two cellphones, a laptop computer, a backpack and two bags, containing subversive documents and personal belongings. The area is reportedly an election hotspot.

Solcom chief Lt. Gen. Roland M. Detabali directed the troops to further intensify their campaign against the rebels’ asking campaign fees from candidates.

In Agusan del Sur, officers led by Chief Insp. Apollo Abao, chief of the Prosperidad Municipal Police Station, were on their way back to their headquart ers when they came under heavy fire from some 30 NPA guerrillas hiding in the bushes in Barangay Mabuhay.

Abao, SPO2 Mellardo Lumain, PO3 Leo Rhoderick Urbiztundo and PO2 Marcial Covera, were taken to a local hospital.

The policemen were attacked shortly after they helped secure the distribution of land titles to local farmers, Police Regional Office 13 director Chief Supt. Reynaldo Rafal.