While the entire nation was glued to the television to watch the Manny Pacquiao-David Diaz fight, the unexpected happened when the communist New People’s Army made a surprise attack and raid on Dapa and General Luna town halls in the tourist island of Siargao in Surigao del Norte.

Sketchy reports revealed that the attack was staged by the joint forces of NPA Front Committee 16 and Front Committee 18. Reports showed that after raiding the Siargao Island towns, the rebels retreated to Panatao, Claver, Surigao del Norte where it encountered the combined forces of the police and military blocking force. After a fierce gunbattle, 9 rebels and 2 from the government side were killed.

***

At least 60 NPA rebels made a daring raid in Dapa and Gen. Luna in Siargao Island at 10:30 in the evening Saturday, June 28, 2008.

***

Killed in the government side were Police Inspector Ricky Arado and PO1 Serafin Manungas both assigned at the RMG detachment based in Km. 90 along the Surigao del Norte-Surigao del Sur boundary. Reports said, the troops were ambushed by an NPA blocking force set up to defend retreating rebels from Siargao Island.