Cop hurt in ambush during surveillance

CEBU, Philippines —  A police officer was wounded in an ambush while conducting surveillance operation of a suspected marijuana plantation in Toledo City last Monday night.

Police Master Sergeant DoughlasMaravillas of the First Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) suffered from gunshot wounds on the left part of the body and on his shoulder. Maravillas and other operatives were doing surveillance mission in the mountainous area of Barangay Pangamihan, Toledo City when unidentified gunmen fired at them around 8:30 p.m.

Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) director Colonel Roderick Mariano said they are eyeing three persons as possible perpetrators. Mariano said the three are known marijuana planters in Toledo city.

“Merontayongmgasuspekdoon, actually may mga warrant atanamgataonayun," Mariano said.

He, however, did not reveal the names of the suspects pending an ongoing manhunt operation.

Mariano has directed the PMFC commander to investigate the residents in the area because of the possibility that they know the suspects. The provincial director believes that the suspects may have noticed the police conducting surveillance prompting them to attack.

He said the police were tipped off of the marijuana plantation in the area prompting the PMFC operatives to conduct surveillance to verify the information.

"It is a legitimate operations nakinonductngaating 1st PMFC doonsa reported marijuana plantation,” Mariano said.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office- 7 director Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro reminded all police personnel to exercise caution during anti-illegal drugs operations.

“Again i will repeat that their personal safety should be a primordial concern, physical security, operational security should be the top priority of any operating unit,” Ferro said.

The injured cop is now in the hospital and currently undergoing treatment.–  FPL (FREEMAN)