DAVAO CITY—The police chief of the coastal town of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental was abducted, while a policeman and a noncombatant were wounded, when an undetermined number of armed men attacked the town hall and the police station on Sunday evening. Govenor Generoso Mayor Vicente Orencia confirmed reports that Chief Insp. Arnold Ongachen was taken by the armed men in their escape after an almost three-hour firefight with the police.
Orencia also revealed that Police Officer 3 John Rey Cinco and a noncombant were wounded during the incident. Unconfirmed reports said another police officer, PO3 Eduardo Garrido, was reported missing.
Orencia said the local government received reports that the armed men belong to the communist New People’s Army (NPA).
He would not also confirm if the attack is politically motivated, following reports that the attackers were men of a losing mayoral candidate who has maintained a private army and has connections with pirate group.
Orencia, who is on the way out after finishing his three term, will be replaced by her daughter.
“I received reports about the other group [mayoral candidate] but will withold comment until I have received the full incident report. The CIDG [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group] is conducting a parallel investigation,” Orencia said.
He admitted that he and his supporters have been receiving threats during the campaign.
Orencia also corrected earlier reports their house was fired at by the armed men.
According to Orencia, the armed men escaped onboard the motorboats.
If the attackers were NPA rebels, Orencia said it was the first incident involving the communist rebels in the town.
Capt. Rhyan Batchar, chief information officer of the 10th Infantry “Agila” Division, said, “The attack lasted for nearly an hour before the attackers withdrew and took with them the police chief of Governor Generoso.”
He said the 10ID immediately dispatched reinforcement to support the policemen, but were prevented by a blocking force staged by the NPA along the national highway that connects Governor Generoso to the towns of San Isidro and Lupon.
“The troops saw used tires piled up in the national highway. We were not able to penetrate immediately because we suspect that armed men were also deployed nearby ready to stage an ambush and the possible landmines that were planted near the blocking area,” Batchar pointed out.
He recalled that during the attack in Mati City in February last year, members of the reinforcement team were severely hit by a landmine planted by the NPA rebels near the brigade camp in the area. The explosion killed four Army soldiers.