PNP News Releases 2005

MAGPET CHIEF OF POLICE RELIEVED

PNP Chief, Director General Arturo C Lomibao flew to Magpet, North Cotabato yesterday to personally assess ongoing pursuit operations against a group of 36 New People's Army members that ransacked the town Police Station at 5:45 PM Sunday.

Initial investigation disclosed that the suspects arrived at the Police Station at 5:45 PM Sunday aboard three vans and disguised in military uniforms, and pretended to turnover an arrested person in handcuffs.

Once inside the Police Station, the NPA drew their guns and disarmed the nine policemen on duty of their service firearms.

The NPA group looted a total of 28 long and short firearms from the Police Station and fled towards Barangay Magcaalam where the three vans were abandoned.

North Cotabato Provincial Director, Superintendent Miguel Laurel is heading hot pursuit operations with augmentation troops from the 39 th Infantry Battalion of Philippine Army.

The drivers of the vans revealed that they were picked-up by the NPA in Barangay Linagkob, Kidapawan City .

The NPA group was reportedly led by a certain Roberto Castillote alias Ka Enoy .

Manhunt operations are underway by the PNP Special Action Force, North Cotabato Police and the 39 th IB with heliborne troops from the Army's 6 th Infantry Division and blocking forces from the 73 rd and 25 th Infantry Battalions and the Davao del Sur PNP.

Governor Manny Piñol gave assurance of full support to the ongoing AFP-PNP operations during a briefing in Magpet attended by Major General Agustin Demaala, Commanding General of the Army's 6 th Infantry Division, and Chief Superintendent Danilo Mangila, PNP Regional Director for Central Mindanao .

Lomibao ordered the administrative relief of the Chief of Police of Magpet, Senior Inspector Wilfredo Perocho , and the entire town police force to undergo retraining, pending investigation, and designated Senior Inspector Jonathan Tagum , the Group Director of the 2 nd Provincial Mobile Group as concurrent Officer-in-Charge of Magpet Police Station with personnel from the 2 nd PMG as replacements.

The PNP Chief ordered the Directorate for Investigation and detective Managementy (DIDM) to initiate immediate investigation of the incident with possibel charges of cowardice and neglect of duty against the personel concerned, if evidence warrants.

Lomibao also released P300,000.00 for the repair of damages to the Police Station.