ARMED men believed to members of the New People’s Army (NPA) burned down a church and four houses in a mountain village in Opol town, Misamis Oriental, early today.
According to Maj. Evary Bacunawa, Opol municipal police chief, the incident happened in a tribal community at Zone 2, Barangay Limonda, Opol, at around 3:30 am.
The razed place of worship belonged to an evangelical group although investigators have yet to identify the church’s name.
The burned houses were owned by Edward Villiarias, Ronny Tingkang, Edmar Burlat, and Avilino Sambulay, all residents of Limonda.
Bacunawa said the structures “were intentionally burned by more or less 10 fully armed men believed to be members of Ace [company], Sub-regional Command 5” led by a certain “Decoy.”
Lt. Theofratus Pia, Misamis Oriental provincial police spokesperson, said no resident was harmed.
“There were no civilian injuries. Aside from the church and houses, a motorcycle was also burned,” Pia said.
He said that prior to the incident, the suspects figured in an armed confrontation with the military in Mainit, a barangay in Iligan City, not far from Limonda.
Pia said the rebels probably made their retreat to Limonda and burned the structures as a diversionary tactic.
“It’s probable that they staged the burning as a diversion so they won’t be followed by the pursuing government forces,” he added.
Pia said the provincial police has deployed a company from the Provincial Mobile Force Company to secure the area and conduct pursuit operation, adding the Army has also sent troops to Limonda.
Opol Mayor Maximino Seno said that as of this afternoon the area has already been secured by government forces. (Jigger J. Jerusalem)
