Tago MPS escaped from a foiled ambush by CTG in SurSur town
By: Nida Grace P. Barcena
SAN MIGUEL, Surigao del Sur – The intelligence personnel of the Tago Municipal
Police Station (MPS) onboard a gray Toyota Hi-Ace Commuter Van were fired upon
by more or less 10 Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) believed to be members of GF
30A, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committe (NEMRC) under Kumander Nico,
around 11:20AM, yesterday, August 30, 2022 in Sitio Panunungan, Barangay Libas
Gua, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
Photo credit to PPO-SDS |
Based on the report, the said PNP team was conducting an operation dubbed as 1-day Simultaneous Anti Criminality Law Enforcement Operation (SACLEO), serving the warrant of arrest (WOA) against a CTG personality identified as Luwino Mendiola also known as “Doktor Turko”, believing to be hiding in Barangay Libas Gua. Unfortunately, Mendiola was not around during that day.
While the operatives of the PNP were on their way back to their official station, they were fired upon by members of the CTG that hit the right rear tire and back portion of the vehicle, prompting them to accelerate and escape away.
Upon reaching the vicinity of Sitio Cadlum, Barangay Cabangahan, Tago, Surigao del Sur, the PNP operatives noticed another fully armed men believed to be CTGs along the road. The situation prompted them to abandon the vehicle and secured themselves bound to the mountainous area of said place.
Around 12:50 PM of the same day, the police operatives reached the adjacent Barangay Alba, Tago, Surigao del Sur. They were fetched by personnel of Tago MPS, and safely arrived at their station at around 1:10 PM.
The Police Provincial Office (PPO) immediately alerted all units in the vicinity of the province. Likewise, they coordinated with the 75th Infantry Battalion (75IB) for their information and appropriate action.
Meanwhile, the abandoned vehicle used for the operation was successfully retrieved by the personnel of San Miguel MPS at around 3:00 PM on the same day and brought it back to Tago MPS, it was learned. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)