NPA exposes weak security measures

By NITZ ARANCON
and SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
with EDWIN IYO
Correspondents

THE New People’s Army yesterday flexed its muscles in eastern Misamis Oriental, showing that it can do as it pleases within 10 minutes and then get away with it without government and its security forces being able to do anything about it.

Some 50 NPA rebels occupied a section of the highway in Barangay Pahindong in Medina town, set up a roadblock, and then threatened a barangay chairman at around 6:30 am yesterday, according to the military.

The provincial and town governments, the military and the police were caught aback, and were not able to respond quickly. By the time help arrived, the rebels have long been gone.

Nicole Managbanag, the capitol’s new spokesperson, downplayed the incident, calling it an isolated case.

According to Managbanag, she received information about the Medina incident at around 9:30 am or three hours after the rebels occupied the highway.

She said the absence of a cellphone signal in that part of Medina town factored in the slow government response.

As a result, the police in neighboring Gingoog City went on full alert, said the city’s police director Supt. Roel Lami-ing.

But according to Lami-ing, there were about 100 rebels who occupied the area for about 30 minutes.

The capitol however said there were more or less 50 NPA rebels behind the Medina incident, and that it only lasted for about 10 minutes.

Camp Alagar placed the entire Region 10 under a full alert status.

Chief Supt. Agripino Cruz, police director for northern Mindanao, said no one was hurt in the Medina incident but he ordered police offices throughout the region to step up security operations.

Cruz said the NPA rebels were active again as a result of the collapse of the peace talks.

Lt. Col. Francis Carandang, commander of the 58th  Infantry Battalion, said the rebels blocked the road for about 10 minutes, stopping and searching about 10 vehicles.

He said the rebels searched for firearms.

Carandang said the NPA operationwas carried out by the NPA’s Guerrilla Front 4B Committee under a couple identified as Richard Mansenguiao a.k.a. Macong and Merlyn Ayuma a.k.a. Maya.

While vehicles were being searched, other rebels proceeded to the house of barangay chairman Ruel Cabaños nearby, and warned the village chief.

Carandang said rebels accused Cabaños of land-grabbing and of exploiting workers. He said the barangay chairman was told to return the property, and to properly compensate workers.

He said the rebels withdrew after about 10 minutes towards the direction of Sitio Puraay, Barangay Macopa in Talisayan town.

Carandang said government troops subsequently launched their own “blocking operations” after the Medina incident.

By 7:30 am or about an hour after the rebels occupied the section of the Medina highway, the area was declared passable, he said.

Carandang said the military was also prompted to step up security operations in eastern Misamis Oriental.

Insp. Jonathan Fabre, Medina town police chief, said law enforcers were closely coordinating their own security operations with the military.

Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano said the capitol was also closely coordinating with the 58th IB and the police in order to strengthen security measures in the province.

Emano’s spokesperson, Nicole Managbanag, said, “Nanghinaut siya nga dili mulala ang sitwasyon ug mubalik ang peace talks sa duha ka kampo.”

Emano said his concern is on the security of civilians.

He volunteered to broker a local talks between the government and the NPA in the province.

“Subo paminawon nga tungod sa pagka-collapse sa peace talks tali sa NPA ug government peace panels, apiktado ang peace and order sa katawhan sa Misamis Oriental,” said Emano.