It was supposed to be a lightning raid on a small police station in Davao Oriental on Friday but the large band of attacking rebels ended up caught by surprise when the cops stood their ground and put up a bold fight.

As a result, at least five communist rebels were killed while several others were wounded that left the attackers fleeing and dragging their slain and injured comrades, said Supt. Querubin Manalang, spokesman of Southern Mindanao regional police.

“There were five killed on the side of the enemy, our men saw them (fleeing rebels) carrying their dead companions and this information was corroborated by civilian witnesses,” said Manalang.

He said that at around 1 p.m. Friday, two dump trucks pulled over at the vicinity of a small police detachment at Sitio Tagadao, Barangay Poblacion in Cateel town.

The 50 armed men on board then alighted and tried to attack area which was then being manned by some 20 cops.

Although outnumbered, the official said the local policemen stood their ground and were even able to out-maneuver the rebels in more than 20 minutes of fierce clash.

The rebels are from the Guerrilla Front 20 of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in Southern Mindanao.

“Three policemen were wounded in the attack during the raid which was effectively repulsed by our men,” said Manalang.

He identified them as PO1 Lino Layese, PO1 Mario Renquijo, and PO2 Cesar Camomot.

But Manalang said three more policemen were wounded in the ensuing sporadic clashes during the pursuit operation against the fleeing rebels.