The Davao City Police Office held 14 suspected members of the New People’s Army posing as security guards of the Lapanday Foods Inc. during pursuit operations against rebels who attacked the company Saturday.
Two still unidentified bodies believed to be rebels were recovered by the military during the pursuit operations.
The suspects were tracked by the pursuing Army troops in Buhangin on Saturday afternoon near Tigatto where the NPA rebels could have exited after attacking Lapanday early Saturday morning.
They were immediately turned over by the Army to the police for investigation.
The two bodies were recovered separately by the soldiers in Barangays Pangyan and Dominga in Calinan. Dominga was formerly a stronghold of the NPA in the early 90s.
DCPO spokesperson Maria Cristina Gaspan said the 14 persons were released after profiling. Four of the 14 were intercepted by Task Force Davao. The four of them were seen near the blast site and were acting suspiciously, thus, held for interrogation, according to Gaspan.
“At this point in time, they are considered persons of interests but no case has been filed yet considering that no probable cause to establish their participation in that (attack),” Gaspan said.
During the inquiry, Gaspan said they learned that some of them were hired as security guards of Lapanday through an agency asked to secure the company.
NPA rebels separately attacked the Lorenzo-owned Macondray Plastics Inc. in Barangay Tagpore, Panabo City followed by the burning of the Lapanday box plant and plastic plant buildings in Tigatto, and the attack of the Lorenzo Farms in Calinan.
The series of attacks left two security guards of Lorenzo Farms and a fish vendor wounded. Also damaged were Lorenzo farm equipment. The rebels took away four shotguns and one M16 rifle of security guards. (PNA)
