NATIVIDAD – Some 20 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on a mission to collect revolutionary taxes from residents in sitio San Jose, Barangay Cacandongan here may have planned to ambush expected reinforcements for some beleaguered policemen coming from the 107th Police Mobile Group evening of August 2.

Senior Inspector Bernardo Aromin said the rebels surrounded his policemen who were holed up inside a house in the sitio after they were called to check the presence of armed men collecting revolutionary taxes in the area but found themselves instead surrounded by the armed rebels. .

The policemen were PO2 Samuel Caspe, PO2 Ruben Abuan, PO1 Armando Torio, PO3 Samson Escobar and another unidentified companion.

The policemen called for reinforcement after finding themselves encircled although they said they were prepared to fight it out with their long arms if they were attacked.

Elements of the 107th Police Mobile Group who were to respond to the call may have sensed however that they were walking into an ambush so they delayed their response.
Unable to wait for their intended victims, the NPA rebels withdrew and did not also attack the five policemen who were inside the house.

Aromin sensed that the rebels may only be after the reinforcement as they did not proceed anymore to attack the five policemen who sought sanctuary in a house.

The following morning Supt. Ruben Catabonam director of the 107th PMG, and Senior Inspector Aromin went to sitio San Jose to talk to the residents who were being collected of revolutionary taxes by the rebels.