NPA raid on Catbalogan jail leaves inmate dead, 3 jail officers wounded

The New People's Army attacked an office of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Catbalogan City, Samar on Saturday morning, klilling an inmate and leaving three jail officers injured, provincial police said.

 

According to the Samar provincial police, the raid at the BJMP office in Barangay Lagundi happened at 3:30 a.m. was preceded by explosions from improvised bombs.

 

Citing a statement from Senior Jail Officer 3 Edwin Tolibas, the police said around 30 NPA fighters then entered the office.

 

"Yung pader mismo pinasabog nila, malaki ang butas. Doon sila pumasok. Maganda naman actually yung pader ng facility, hindi talaga basta-basta mapapasok, kaso ayun pinasabugan nila ng IED," S/Supt. Nolasco Bathan, Samar provincial police chief said.

 

Inmate Roy Yangzon was killed in the attack while Tolibas, JO1 Mark de Guzman and JO2 Ismael Palajos were injured. 

 

The NPA took an M16 rifle, a cal.38 pistol, a 9-mm pistol, and three shotguns, Bathan said.

 

Samar police and the Army 8th Infantry Division have sent personnel to go after the rebels, who withdrew to a mountainous area in the north, he also said.

 

Bathan said the NPA has been focusing hitting soft — or lightly secured — targets. — JDS, GMA News