Reds attack Davao police station; 2 cops killed

Two policemen were killed while another one was injured in an attack by suspected communist rebels at a police station in Davao del Norte late Saturday night, police officials said Sunday. PO3 Narciso Pakiwag and one identified only as Police Auxiliary Minoza died of injuries after members of the New People's Army (NPA) attacked the Panabo City police station at 10:15 p.m., according to Superintendent Querubin Manalang of Region 11 police. The victims and several other Panabo City policemen tried to defend the station when the rebels attacked, leading to a firefight that lasted for half an hour, Manalang said. Another policeman, Senior Inspector Jay Demaala, was wounded during the clash, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. The NPA rebels fled to an unknown location using two vans after the attack, which Davao del Norte police managed to recover hours later. Pursuit operations have already been launched to track down the communist rebels behind the incident, Cruz said. The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), has been waging armed struggle for 41 years now to establish a Marxist state in the Philippines. - Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News