Communist Rebels' Rescue Attempt for Ranking Leader Fails

GUINOBATAN, Albay, Sept. 16 - Suspected communist guerillas attempting to rescue a ranking Bikol communist rebel ambushed Wednesday a police convoy securing the rebel leader along the Maharlika Highway in said town in Albay.

The Guinobatan town Philippine National Police (PNP) station said a band of communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels failed an attempt to rescue Iglecerio Pernia alias Ka Choi, a ranking Bikol NPA leader, who is currently detained at the Albay Provincial Jail here.

Police Inspector Rico Nociliado said one of the seven security escorts was seriously wounded during the attack.

He was identified as Police Officer 1 (PO1) Rommel Aringo, a member of the 501st Police Provincial Mobile Group (PPMG) based in Guinobatan town. He sustained bullet wounds in his body and was rushed to the Aquinas University Hospital.

Nocilaido said the ambuscade took place around 10 a.m. Wednesday, when a band of communist rebels prepositioned at a vantage point along the Maharlika Highway in barangay Binogsacan attacked the convoy securing the NPA leader.

Members of the security convoy told investigators they were on their way back to Legazpi City after bringing Pernia to the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Ligao City to attend a hearing at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday when they were attacked.

The drivers of the security convoy said they swiftly maneuvered their vehicles to evade the volley of fire from the attackers who were armed with high caliber assault firearms.

After escaping the rescue attempt by the communist rebels, Pernia was immediately brought to the provincial jail and is now back to his detention cell.

Pernia, popularly known as Choi, claims that he is a member of the National Demaocratic Front (NDF) Peace Panel. He is also facing multiple murder and highway robbery charges.

Pernia was captured January 2008 in Sta. Maria Bulacan by military intelligence operatives while betting at a cockfight arena.

Provincial Warden Ruben Velasco said Pernia disguised himself as a mentally ill patient when he was booked at the provincial jail.

For this reason, Velasco said Pernia was placed under psychiatric treatment and was found by physicians to be sane.

As this developed, Army Capt. Razaleigh Bansawan, 901st Infantry Brigade spokesman said, military intelligence has validated reports indicating that the communist movement has designed a tactical plan on rescuing Pernia, a member of the Bicol Regional Party Committee (BRPC).

Bansawaan said "Maj. Gen. Roperto Pabustan commanding general of the Army's Infantry Division personally visited the rebel leader in his detention cell to assess the security procedures being taken at the provincial jail."

Police and military operatives are scouring villages where the communist rebels are believed to be hiding. (PNA)