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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