Police Chief in Pankulan, Quezon relieved after NPA attacked their station

Miami
August 11, 2008
Story: Police Chief in Pankulan, Quezon relieved after NPA attacked their station

A Chief of Police in a municipal police station in Pankulan, Quezon province was relieved after their station was attacked by New People’s Army (NPA) Monday morning.

Initial reports disclosed that the incident occurred at around 8:00 am, August 11, when about 50 heavily armed men believed to be members of NPA raided the Panukulan Municipal Police Station.

The police officers who were having their flag ceremony were ordered at gunpoint to drop on the ground and surrender their firearms and personal belongings which includes cell phones.

“There after, the NPA ransacked their police station and bombed Globe cell site in Panukulan, Quezon before fleeing towards Baler, Quezon aboard boat,” the report from Police Regional Office of Region 4A said.

During the time of the incident, PInsp. Arnold Valenzuela, chief of police of Panukalan Police Station was out of the station. The station has 21 police officers that time, all of their service firearms were confiscated by the NPA together with their two issued long firearms.

PNP Chief Avelino Razon already ordered for the investigation on what happened in Panukulan Police Station, he also asked to relive the chief of Panukalan to give way on the investigation. Valenzuela is now at the Regional Office of PRO-4A.

Meanwhile in the text message sent by Capt. Leah Santiago, spokesperson of Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command (AFP SOLCOM) she said, “Four helicopterswith elements of 2nd Infantry Division under Maj. Gen. Roland Detabali in particular the 16th IB are now conducting pursuit operation to prevent the escape of the NPA rebels.”

Joint PNP and AFP elements are now on pursuit operations, this was confirmed by Quezon Provincial Director Sr. Supt Fidel Posadas who is at the field as of this moment.