The regional police have recorded more than 360 heinous crimes committed by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Davao since 1990.
The Davao Police Regional Office (PRO) recorded 109 arson incidents, 103 cases of murders and ambushes, 70 bombings cases, 49 cases of kidnapping and abductions, and 31 robbery cases in the Davao Region.
“The killings, arsons, extortions and harassments they perpetrated over the past and recent years have transformed them into an organized crime group,” said Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal, the PRO 11 regional director.
Escobal said the NPA is also involved in the destruction of countless government and private properties resulting from the violent criminal activities.
During the said period, Escobal said the NPA claimed the lives of 175 persons in Davao.
Among the murder cases included the 1989 Rano massacre in Digos City, Davao del Sur where 39 victims were killed; the 2008 murder of businessman Vicente Ferrazzini in downtown Davao; the death of fisherman Larry Buenafe whose motorcycle hit an NPA-planted explosive in Buhangin District; and the 2018 ambush of police convoy in Bansalan, Davao del Sur that killed four police officers.
The NPA’s activities also caused injuries to 311 persons, which included members of the Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Center who were evacuating wounded soldiers in Bansalan in 2014.
Escobal said the heinous crimes perpetrated by the NPA members are clear evidence that communist leader Joma Sison has formed a coalition of criminals.
“To gain support, they deceived various sectors that they are revolutionary movement but their actions suggest that they are mere criminals preying on innocent students, indigenous peoples, and vulnerable communities,” the police director said.
Escobal said the PRO has been conducting manhunt operations against criminals who are masquerading as revolutionaries.
Among those that the police are hunting include Ronmel Tausan, Jolan “Raden” Suazo, Marjjoe “Yoyong” Sambilad, Marilyn “Cheche” Bago, Marvin Alberto Manibog and Ariel Castillote. The wanted personalities are facing various criminal charges before the court.
Escobal said the police, along with the military and local government units, will relentlessly pursue the “criminals who have been restraining the productivity of the Filipinos.”
