TUGUEGARAO CITY: A Malacañang official blamed “intelligence lapses” for Monday’s ambush of eight policemen in Cagayan.
Presidential Legislative Liaison Manuel Mamba said the regional police apparently lacked community relations and coordination with local government units in the province that caught authorities unaware of the surge of attacks by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Allacapan town.
Eight operatives of the elite police Special Action Force were killed by a roadside improvised explosive device set up by the NPA in the village of Cataratan, Allacapan on Monday.
The rebels earlier torched a gasoline tanker owned by Jennifer Masangcay when she reportedly refused to pay revolutionary taxes to the NPA.
The NPA also raided the warehouse owned by Aurelio Abraham in Immurung, Baggao on April 25.
Police admitted the incidents revealed the increasing extortion activities of the NPA in the province.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR
