Monday, February 16, 2015

AFP-PNP coordination cited in thwarted NPA attack



DAVAO CITY-  The Eastern Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines cited the coordination between the Army and the police as one of the reasons why the New Peoples Army attack at the Mati Police Station was repelled.

Lt. General Aurelio Baladlad, EastMinCom chief said that Army intelligence shared to the police allowed the Philippine National Police to beef up its forces in Mati.

According to intelligence sources theNPAs units from the Pulang Bagani Command 3 and 6 operating in Compostela Valley were planning to attack several targets in Davao Oriental, among these targets included Mati City.

The PNP were able to send reinforcements from its Regional Public Safety Battalion to the Mati Police Station because of the intelligence reports.

Last Sunday (Feb. 15) evening, New People Army rebels disguised as Army soldiers trying to transfer a prisoner, tried to enter the Mati Police  Station but alert PNP personnel held off a force of about 50 NPAs who tried to force their way into the station. A rebel was killed in the clash, his body recovered just outside the station, about 31 backpacks and three vehicles used by the rebels in the attack were also recovered.

Baladlad said without the coordination the attack wouldn’t have been repulsed. Army soldiers belonging to the 701st Infantry Brigade tried to reinforce the policemen but their vehicle was hit by two landmines, which killed three government troopers.

The Eastmincom chief said that the failed attack is an indication of the good partnership between the police and military.

The partnership between the Army and the Police was put on the spotlight  during the January 25 operation to capture terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alyas Marwan in Mamasapano, Maguindanao Province which resulted in the deaths of 44 PNP Special Action Force commandos, a tragedy blamed on the lack of coordination between the police and the military. (PIA/RG Alama)

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