Fact-finding team formed to probe Eastern Samar police station raid

PALO, Leyte, March 9 (PNA) -- The Philippine National Police regional office here has created a fact-finding team to probe the raid incident in Balangkayan, Eastern Samar where suspected members of the New People’s Army stormed the police station.

Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Jose Erwin Villacorte said the newly formed body now gathers information and pieces of evidence as to what transpired at the police station around 7 p.m. on Monday.

“The police personnel involved will submit their affidavit. After they submit it, that’s the only time that we will announce our findings,” Villacorte said.

Villacorte, along with an official from the national police headquarters, went to Balangkayan Tuesday morning to personally assess the situation.

Of the 22 police assigned in Balangkayan, nine were on duty, but only six were at the police station during the raid.

When asked about the whereabouts of the other police personnel, Villacorte said the three policemen were having dinner at home.

The rebels carted away nine long service firearms, short firearms and two shotguns. No police were hurt during the raid as they were told to drop on the ground as rebels ransacked the armory

“We are still verifying these figures since we are still conducting inventory and investigation. We will provide you the actually count of firearms taken once the investigation is done,” said Villacorte.

Villacorte added that he already relieved the six police officers who were at the police station during the raid.

The town chief of police Sr. Insp. Gilbert Colima was relieved by the police regional office from his post. He was re-assigned at the police regional office while investigation is ongoing.

Villacorte added that they will also ask the United Nations Development Programme to provide a copy of video footage of the CCTV they have installed at the town hall near the police station.

The town of Balangkayan was declared by the Philippine Army as rebel-free area in January 2013, just three months after the town was declared as conflict-manageable and ready for development in 2012.

The last time the NPA attacked the town was in 1980s, Villacorte recalled.

With this incident, Villacorte issued an order to all police stations in the region to always be on alert.

He added that police stations under towns that are declared as insurgency-free should remain vigilant of possible NPA attacks because the declaration does not guarantee that the town is free from NPA presence.

Authorities declare an area “insurgency-free” if the strength of rebels within its jurisdiction is too small to influence its residents and their activities, according to Villacorte

The lead role of maintaining peace and order is then transferred from the military to local officials and police. (PNA)

JMC/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA