Some of the commuist rebels who were killed in their attempt to over run the municipal police station of Victoria, Northern Samar pre-dawn on Thursday. (Contributed photo)
TACLOBAN CITY -- Three members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed when they attempted to overrun a police station in Victoria, Northern Samar early Thursday.
The 50 armed rebels, mostly women clad in military fatigue uniforms with yellow headbands, failed to seize the police station when they launched an attack at about 3:30 a.m., the Police Regional Office 8 (Eastern Visayas) reported.
“The 15 policemen on duty led by Police Lt. Eladio Alo, Victoria town chief of police, were able to defend the police station and put up a firefight with the communist terrorists by occupying the rooftop of their station,” PRO-8 said in a press statement.
Two policemen were slightly wounded by shrapnel during the three-hour gun battle that ended at about 6:40 a.m. They are Police Senior Master Sgt. Arturo Gordo and Police Master Sgt. Arnold Cabacang.
A young NPA member was also arrested by the police after the firefight while they recovered two firearms.
The NPA unit, which has jurisdiction in the area, is under section committee 2, sub-regional committee emporium of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee, headed by Ranie Cabides, according to the police.
Victoria, a fifth class town in Northern Samar, is about 238 km. north of Tacloban, the regional capital.
PNP Chief, General Oscar Albayalde commended the cops who protected their station against the attack.
“We would like to commend the Victoria Municipal Police Station sa Samar at nagpakita talaga sila ng tapang (where they really manifested courage) wherein they were harassed by more or less 50 NPA rebels but they were able to repulse yung pag-atake sa kanila (the attack), “ Albayalde said.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union. (PNA)
