NPAs kill 2 cops in Catanduanes

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Two policemen were killed and five others, including the Viga town police chief and three drug surrenderees, were wounded Thursday when New People’s Army (NPA) rebels ambushed their vehicles on the way to a drug rehabilitation seminar in Virac, Catanduanes.

Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola Jr., Bicol police regional director, condemned the attack he described as an “act of terrorism” and ordered a pursuit operation.

Col. Alduan Masagca, 901st Brigade commander, also ordered the 83rd Infantry Battalion to help the pursuing policemen and fight the fleeing NPA members.

The rebels first attacked the escorting policemen by detonating an improvised explosive device near a hilly portion along the highway in Barangay Sagrada, Virac town.

Although they were able to escape the attack, SPO1 Marwin de Vera was hit in the stomach while surrenderees Alvin de la Cruz, Michael Joseph Tuhon and Andy Freddie Tawat were hit by shrapnel. De Vera was brought to the Immaculate Heart of Mary hospital for treatment and the surrenderees to Eastern Bicol Medical Center.

De Vera was with PO3 Quirico Ortinero, PO2 Bryan Magalong and PO1s Rousner Carbonel, Robert Teodones and Jomar Pantaleon on two vehicles to escort 10 surrenderees to Virac, the capital town about 62 kilometers away, for a community-based rehabilitation seminar.

Informed of the attack, Viga police chief Senior Insp. Ernesto Montes Jr. called on SPO2 Bienvenido Trinidad Jr., SPO1 Erwin Pichuela, PO3 Joseph Tupue and PO2 Eva Torcelino to reinforce the first team, but they too were fired upon.

Torcelino and Tupue, both members of the Virac police unit, were killed while Montes was hit twice in the back, said Bicol police spokesperson Senior Insp. Malou Calubaquib.

Catanduanes had been declared a “conflict manageable area” in 2014. A certain Melwin Guerrero allegedly leads the Komite sa Platon Pusa unit of the NPA and has been extorting from residents and businessmen. – With Cet Dematera, Jaime Laude