BULACAN RESIDENTS FORCIBLY REOPEN NORTH LUZON EXPRESSWAY EXIT
GUIGUINTO, BULACAN, February 15, 2005 (STAR) By James Mananghaya - Backed by heavy equipment, residents, business owners, local officials and various militant groups in this town, forcibly removed the barricades put up by the company operating the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in one of its exits yesterday.Around 1,500 protesters picketed the Barangay Tabe entry and exit point of the NLEX and watched as a pay loader, forklift, and a bulldozer removed concrete barricades put up by the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) last week.
Guiguinto Mayor Ambrocio Cruz said the town is against the closure of the toll plaza, as it serves as a gateway to the town and generates revenues and employment for the people.
Cruz estimates that the town will lose around P7 million a day if the toll plaza is permanently closed to motorists.
Barangay Tabe is host to an industrial subdivision, which has also around 80 big busines establishments.
Business owners here have filed a petition against the closure of the Tabe entry and exit point before the Malolos Regional Trial Court but it has yet to issue a decision.
Around 200 anti-riot policemen were deployed here yesterday for the mass action, which also ended peacefully.
Four killed in rebel attacks in Catanduanes By Celso Amo and Cet Dematera The Philippine Star 02/15/2005
LEGAZPI CITY — Three policemen and a civilian aide were killed while seven policemen, including a police director, were wounded when the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels staged separate attacks in Virac town yesterday morning.
Reports reaching Camp General Simeon Ola here identified the fatalities as SPO2 Benigno Toquerro and SPO1 Rudy Cortez, both members of the Aviation Security Command (AVSECOM) assigned at the Virac Airport, PO1 Arnold Sagrit and civilian aide Victoriano Reuyan, of the Catanduanes police provincial command.
Senior Police Superintendent Julius Ovilla, Bicol police chief for operations, said Toquerro and Cortez were about to close the gate of the Virac airport at around 7:30 a.m. when four men, believed to be members of the NPA sparrow unit, shot dead the two AVSECOM police officers and carted away their service firearms.
A few minutes later, a police response team, headed by Catanduanes police chief Gorgonio Rosero, launched hot pursuit operations against the assailants, following the route taken by the fleeing suspects.
They were, however, ambushed while negotiating the road in Barangay Puniton in Virac town.
During the exchange of gunfire, the rebels hurled a hand grenade at Rosero’s group, causing their service vehicle to turnturtle. Rosero was hit by shrapnel in the body and the head while Sagrit and Reuyan died during the explosion.
Six other policemen were wounded, together with Rosero, and are now confined at the Eastern Bicol Medical Center. They were identified as PO2 Elmer Pintor of Ligao City, Police Inspectors Christopher Bendal of Tabaco City, Franco Durante of Ligao City, David Saraspi of Polangui town, Ronald Saliao of Polangui and Erwin Jaucian of Santo Domingo, all from Albay province.
Meanwhile, a six-man team of the Philippine Army from the 42nd Infantry Battalion also reportedly figured in an encounter with another group of NPA rebels in Barangay Bigaa, also in Virac town, some 10 kilometers away from the Virac Airport.
Reports reaching Camp Ola said the soldiers suffered serious injuries but officials failed to confirm the reports.
Intelligence reports said that the Bicol Regional Party Committee is building its forces in the island province of Catanduanes to free its forces from the relentless operation conducted by the 9th division in Camarines Sur.
The NPA rebels belong to the Komite Seksyo sa Platon "Pusa" under a certain Bartolome Batalla, alias Ka Bart. — With Christina Mendez, AFP
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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