SITUATION UPDATE

This morning, the PNP made a presentation on the events that led to the bloody armed encounter at Sitio Malapiat, Barangay San Pascual, Rizal, Kalinga on June 25, 2007. It was delivered during the first Monday Kapehan or meeting at the SP session hall. The presentation with minor modification:

AUTHORITY

- Administrative Order No. 2007-001 (LGU Rizal) Re-organizing the Municipal Action Team of Rizal, Kalinga

- SB Res. No. 2007-002 authorizing the Mayor of Rizal to enforce Municipal Ordinance No. 2005-005 Strictly Prohibiting Land Squatting in the Municipality of Rizal, Kalinga.

- Letter of Hon. Mayor Dela Cruz dated June 20, 2007 requesting for security assistance.

BACKGROUND

- June 22, 2007, Operation Officer and GD, 1605th PPMG attended the meeting held at Tuguegarao City regarding security preparation to be employed during the dismantling of all illegal structures and improvements at Sitio Malapiat, San Pascual, Rizal, Kalinga, pursuant to the above references.

- June 23, 2007, security personnel was organized composed of 110 personnel including 7 officers of PNP/PA.

NARRATIVE

- June 25, 2007, around 5:30 AM security personnel from this office jumped-off towards Rizal, Kalinga to provide security assistance and ensure the safety and protection of the demolition team of LGU Rizal.

- June 25, 2007, around 6:30 AM, prior to jump-off to the area, a briefing was conducted by Hon. Marcelo Dela Cruz attended by the security personnel relative to the demolition to be undertaken by LGU Rizal.

- At around 7:30 AM, Demolition Team of LGU Rizal led by the Mayor Hon. Marcelo Dela Cruz with other local gov’t officials and security personnel proceeded to the area to implement the demolition.

- Security personnel were deploying themselves for security assistance to the area when they were fired upon without any apparent reason by the armed group from the area in the shanties who already pre-positioned themselves in foxholes, covered by tall and thick cogon grass.

- Four PNP personnel were wounded at first volley of fires.

- Demolition team scampered for safety when the fierce fight ensued.

- Reinforcement personnel of Tabuk MPS were also met by volley of fires hitting several police.

- At around 10:00 AM same day, PNP and AFP personnel led by PD, KPPO and Battalion Commander, 21st IB PA also proceeded to the area for reinforcement.

- As the gun fires still continuous emanated from the positions of the armed men, personnel of the Commission of Human Rights arrived. AFP/PNP with CHR personnel exhausted all possible means to unilaterally stop the firefight to avoid loss of life but to no avail. The armed men were also ordered to surrender through megaphone, however they kept on firing towards the government troops that caused PO2 Garry Bassiag and PO1 Ramon Mamanteo hit and subsequently evacuated to nearest hospital.

- Due to enemy stronghold and fortified position, large scale operation was hatched.

- At around 3:00 PM, joint elements of PA and PNP maneuvered towards the enemy backed-up by two (2) V-150 to neutralize the enemy and clear the area which lasted up to 4:00 PM.

- At 3:15 PM, SPO1 Reynaldo Villanueva was fatally wounded during the firefight.
Clearing operation continued until 5:00 PM.

INVESTIGATION PHASE

- Joint investigation was made by Rizal Police Station and Task Force Malapiat under the Supervision of the undersigned resulted in the filling of Criminal Case titled Multiple Frustrated Murder against the eight arrested suspects docketed under PI Case No. 07F-135 before the Provincial Prosecutor Office. However, two of the arrested suspects when found out to be minors were properly turned-over to Provincial DSWD for their proper disposition.

RESULTS OF OPERATION

- The authorities were able to identify individuals with criminal records. eight enemies were arrested/captured; eight enemies were dead and 10 policemen wounded.

- Recovered evidences: Two M16 rifle with two short magazines and live ammunition, One US Carbine SNR 617245 with one magazine and three live ammunition, Four Long locally made shotgun, One Short locally made shotgun, One hand grenade, Two empty shells of Gauge 12 shotgun.

OBSERVATIONS/COMMENTS

The encounter area was already cleared of the family of alleged illegal settlers when the demolition team and PNP/AFP arrived and in fact there was no demolition transpired that could have been the basis to get the ire of the residents.

It can be gleaned from the facts that armed groups were already pre-positioned before the arrival of the demolition team and the PNP/AFP that will provide police assistance and premeditated the attack against civilian demolition team and PNP/AFP.

It could have been scores of civilians to become the casualties had they entered the contested area had the police allowed them to do so. The police in fact observed police operational procedure (POP) in the conduct of said tasking.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommend financial assistance for the medication/hospitalization of wounded PNP personnel.