CAGAYAN CONDEMNS AMBUSH-SLAY OF 5 COPS / CPP TAKES THE RESPONSIBILITY
BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA, JANUARY 25, 2011 (STAR) By Charlie Lagasca and Jaime Laude – The Cagayan provincial government yesterday condemned last Sunday's ambush slay of a town's police chief and four other officers, by suspected communist rebels, the NPA (photo) in one of the province's remote towns.
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly killing of our five police officers. Such has no place in a civilized society like ours here in Cagayan," said Vice Gov. Leonides Fausto.
Fausto said that the provincial board, which he heads, would initiate a parallel investigation into the ambush to unmask the identities of the perpetrators as well as the possible brains behind the incident.
Fausto, however, did not confirm or deny Army and police reports that the New People's Army (NPA) was the one responsible for the killing of the five police officers, including Chief Inspector Antonio Rueco, police chief of Cagayan's southwestern Rizal town about 3 p.m. last Sunday.
Also killed in the ambush at Barangay Illuru Sur were Rueco's wife, SPO2 Maryjane Rueco and his nephew PO2 Herminio Rueco as well as PO2 Jose Baquiran and PO1 Joven Jimenez. One PO1 Valiant Bustamante also sustained gunshot wounds from the attack.
Meanwhile, SPO4 Edison Lagua, Rueco's missing escort who was earlier reported to be missing, is now undergoing debriefing at the Rizal police office, reports said.
According to the 5th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army in Isabela, the victims were on their way to Tuguegarao City from Rizal town when their service vehicle was hit by a landmine explosion, after which, a volley of gunfire from their attackers followed, which led to their instant death.
Reports said that the police chief's wife served as a judge at a beauty pageant in Rizal town and were already heading home in Tuguegarao when they were waylaid.
The Philippine Army slammed anew the NPA for using a landmine in last Sunday's attack.
"We condemn the NPAs for using another killer landmine," Army spokesman, Col. Antonio Parlade said. He assured that the Army will exert all efforts to help get justice for the victims. The NPA's Danilo Ben Command is said to be behind the latest carnage. – With AP
FROM GMANEWS TV
CPP takes responsibility for deadly Cagayan ambush 01/24/2011 | 05:54 PM
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Monday took responsibility for Sunday's ambush in Cagayan province that left five policemen, including a municipal police chief, dead.
In a press statement, the CPP said the ambush was perpetrated by the New People's Army's (NPA) Danilo Ben Command. The NPA is the armed wing of the CPP.
"Operating troops of the Philippine National Police were ambushed by the New People's Army-Danilo Ben Command yesterday, January 23, at 2:00 pm in Barangay Illuro Sur, Rizal, Cagayan," the CPP said.
The rebels also seized four M-16 rifles and a cal-.38 handgun following the ambush, the CPP said.
The fatalities were identified as Inspector Antonio Rueco, Rizal police chief; his wife, SPO2 Mary Jane Rueco; his brother PO2 Herminio Rueco; PO2 Jose Baquiran; and PO1 Joven Jimenez.
Wounded in the incident were PO1 Valiant Bustamante and SPO4 Edison Lagua.
The victims were on their way to Tuguegarao City from Rizal town, which was 60 kilometers away, when the vehicle they were riding hit a landmine in Barangay Iluru Sur. The rebels also fired at the victims.
The ambush occurred while the government and the National Democratic Front, the CPP's political front, are preparing for the resumption of peace talks in February.
Meanwhile, the government is set to give posthumous awards to the slain policemen on Tuesday.
In a statement, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said he will personally extend his condolences to the bereaved families aside from awarding the posthumous awards and financial assistance to the immediate family members of the fatalities.
The two wounded victims will also be given financial help, he said. — with Joel Nueva/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV
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