5 suspected NPA rebels killed, 6 cops hurt in Davao attacks

(Updated 10:11 p.m.) Five suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed, while six policemen were hurt in two separate encounters in Davao Oriental province on Friday. The five alleged rebels were part of a 40-man group onboard two trucks that attacked a police detachment at Sitio Tagadao in Barangay Poblacion in Cateel town at about 1:10 p.m., Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, Philippine National Police spokesman, said. The trucks were reported to have been stolen, Captain Emmanuel Garcia of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division said in a separate statement. Three cops were wounded in the attack, the same statement said. Injured policemen were identified as PO2 Cesar Camomot, PO1 Lino Layese and PO1 Mario Renquijo. The policemen engaged the rebels in a firefight that lasted for 20 minutes, killing some NPA members, Garcia said. Although troops sustained injuries, the communist rebels were seen “dragging" at least five of their companions who might be dead or wounded while they fled to Satio Bacusan in the village of Kabasagan, Garcia said. Intelligence reports from the Philippine Army later revealed that the five suspected rebels were killed in the fighting and were seen being carried away from the clash site. Authorities were able to retrieve one of the two trucks used by the supposed armed rebels, who are now subjects of a pursuit operation. Three other cops were also hurt after troops were ambushed by rebels in the nearby village of San Antonio at 3 p.m. Friday, according to Garcia. Those injured in the ambush were PO1 Amin Abubakar, PO1 Abdul Mamid and PO1 Werner Marcojos. - Mark D. Merueñas, Andreo C. Calonzo / RJAB Jr., RSJ, GMANews.TV