Ex-Leyte prison chief hurt, 3 slain in ambush

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The former head of the regional penal colony in Leyte was wounded while three jail personnel were killed in an ambush in Abuyog town before noon yesterday.

Superintendent Gerald Aro and the fatalities, two of them identified as Randy Patane and Gelanie Almario, were in a Bureau of Corrections vehicle when they were waylaid in Barangay Cadac-an.

The jail personnel were declared dead on arrival in a hospital.

Aro was transferred to a hospital in this city.

Senior Superintendent Norberto Tuazon, Leyte police director, refused to comment when asked if the ambush was connected to reports that an alleged shabu laboratory was found in the penal colony.

Aro had just relinquished his post to Chief Superintendent Danilo Dador in a turnover ceremony when the ambush occurred.

Aro was reportedly transferred to a penal farm in Mindoro Occidental.