(PNA) – An Army official here has admitted that they were outwitted by the communist New People’s Army (NPAs) who raided a detachment in Barangay Napungas, Asuncion, Davao del Norte around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Army Col. Adriatico Perez of the 60th Infantry Battalion said the about 30 NPA rebels even brought with them village officials and a child during the raid.
Perez also said at least 16 high-powered firearms were carted away by the rebels.
He said the detachment commander, whom he did not identify, was on his way to the detachment when NPA rebels flagged him down and took him along with a girl and two barangay councilors identified as Mariolito Maniha and Junton Peniero.
The civilians were snatched by the NPAs at Barangay San Miguel, Asuncion, Davao del Norte and brought to the detachment in Barangay Napungas, also in Asuncion.
Perez said the detachment commander went with the rebels believing that they were indeed members of the Army’s Special Forces as what the rebels introduced to him.
Perez said the detachment commander and the three civilians were brought to the detachment, thus, in which the members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) were deceived into believing that the suspects were their fellow soldiers.
The incident only lasted for 30 minutes after which the rebels fled, carting away several high powered firearms.
Meanwhile, NPA Southern Mindanao political director Ka Simon Santiago said the NPAs Front 33 seized eight Garand rifles, six M-14 rifles, a M-16 armalite rifle and a .45 caliber pistol.
Santiago said their “successful” raid at the Napungas detachment only showed the “ability and capability” of the NPAs in doing some tactical operations against the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“Nagmalamposon kadto nga operasyon didto tungod kay ang mga sakop sa kasundaloan nag-contrate sa ilang operasyon sa Davao City ug wala na sa Asuncion (The raid was successful since the government troops at Asuncion were reduced due to their massive operations in Davao City),” Ka Simon said.
But Col. Perez said the incident was unfortunate for the effort of both the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) to go back to the negotiating table.
Ka Simon replied that what the NPAs did was just to show to the government why there should be a need to negotiate with them. (PNA)
RMA/Jessie L. Casalda/lvp
