La Union ambush: 2 cops hurt in clash with suspects

SAN FERNANDO, La Union  , Philippines  —   Two police officers were wounded in a gunfight with the suspects in the ambush that killed Vice Mayor Al-Fred Concepcion of Balaoan town and wounded his daughter Mayor Aleli Concepcion on Wednesday.

The victims, identified only as Senior Police Officer 3 Laya and SPO1 Cahigas, intelligence officers of the La Union police, remain confined at the intensive care unit of the Lorma Medical Center. 

“Police officers... proceeded to the area where residents spotted the car allegedly used by the suspects. As they approached... a gray Toyota Rav4, the occupants fired at them. They fired back at the suspects, but they were outnumbered,” a witness told The STAR.    

Initial reports showed the gunmen were spotted in Barangay Nagsaag, San Juan while they were transferring their firearms to another vehicle.

Sources said the suspects are New People’s Army rebels operating in Ilocos and the Cordilleras.

Concepcion’s bodyguard Mike Ulep was also killed in the ambush.

The mayor and the other wounded victims – Roderick Urpiano, Ronniel Valdez, Joey Lopez, Dominador Bautista and Roberto Octavio – are recuperating in an undisclosed hospital.

 The victims were in a convoy of two sport utility vehicles on their way to the municipal hall when they were waylaid in Barangay Cabua-an at around 8:10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Still no leads

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said probers still have no leads on the perpetrators and their motives.

”As of this time, they could not say if they have persons of interest,” Albayalde told reporters.

He said there are no indication that the Concepcions were involved in any illegal activity, including drugs.

Albayalde said an oversight committee would evaluate the performance of Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, Ilocos police director, in connection with the incident.

Stop killings

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the Philippine National Police (PNP) should take extra effort to address and stop the killings of local politicians.

Lacson said the murder of Concepcion and his security escort was an indication that guns-for-hire are tapped to liquidate local officials.

“I think the PNP should... focus on the political situation in La Union because there seems to be a pattern,” Lacson said during the Kapihan sa Senado yesterday.

Lacson, a former police chief, expressed concern on intensifying political rivalry in La Union.

“La Union is fast becoming the Abra of the past. There were killings in Abra during elections. Nung tumahimik yung Abra, La Union naman ang pumalit,” he said.

Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on public order, said he would look into resolutions seeking to investigate the killings of politicians. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Romina Cabrera