NPAs strip Isabela cops of guns

Camp Marcelo A Adduru, Tuguegarao City—The Police Regional Office 2 has condemned the New People’s Army for its “agaw-armas” (weapons snatching) against five members of the Isabela police and the killing of a member of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-Isabela Environment Protection Task Force in Ilagan City.

PRO2 Regional Director Police Brig. Gen. Jose Mario M. Espino condemned the atrocities made by the communist NPAs against members of Philippine National Police Isabela in a statement issued Tuesday.

The rebels seized weapons from PCpl Gaudencio Castillo Jr and PCpl Earl Brian Gannaban, both assigned at the Cauayan City Police Station; PSSg Fernando Capillian of the Cordon PS; PMSg Julius Baribad and PCPL Bryan Q Balisi of the Divilacan PS.

Investigation disclosed that at about 7:30 am on July 5 in Sitio Lagis, Purok 7, Brgy. Sindun Bayabo, Ilagan, Castillo, Gannaban and Capillian boarded a pick-up while traversing Ilagan-Divilacan road going to Divilacan.

Upon reaching the place of incident, the policemen were accosted by 25 fully armed NPA members headed by Ka Uno and Ka Damian and took their issued short firearms, handheld radios, money and other personal belongings. 

At about 8 am of the same date, the communist rebels also accosted Baribad and Balisi and took their issued short firearms.

During investigation, the victims identified one of the suspects as a certain Ka Uno, Secretary of the NPA Southern Front, and a female member of CTG identified as Valencia through photographs.

Meanwhile, at about 2:45 pm on Friday, concerned citizen reported the death of Celso Asuncion, 58, married, and a member of Isabela Environment Protection Task Force. He was a resident of Brgy. Cabisera 10 in Ilagan.

Asuncion was found dead inside their task force office. Based on the follow-up investigation, the police found out that the suspects involve in the “agaw armas” against members of PNP Isabela were also responsible in the killing of the PENRO officer.