Cop killed, 7 hurt in North Cotabato bomb attack

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines  —  A police officer was killed and seven of his colleagues were wounded when a bomb exploded in Magpet town at past 6 p.m. on Monday.

The fatality was identified as Police Officer 1 Christopher Anadon.

SPO1 Michael Mariano Escano, PO2 Marinerl Pastores and PO1s Eliezer Langcuban, Darrell Ferolino, Phil Jan Ray Canarejo, Mark Vincent Capilitan and Franz Deo Lechago were brought to a hospital for treatment.

Superintendent Aldrin Gonzalez, Soccksargen police spokesman, said the victims, all with the North Cotabato Provincial Mobile Force Company, were returning to their camp from a security mission when the bomb exploded in Barangay Poblacion.

Police said New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were believed to have set off the bomb.

The explosion came two days after two NPA rebels were killed in an encounter with personnel of the 19th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Bagumbayan, also in Magpet.

In Agusan del Sur, the body of Rolando Insayoy, a barangay kagawad who was snatched from his home in Purok 2, Barangay Valentina, Esperanza on Friday was found in a shallow grave in nearby Barangay Mantuganoy, San Luis yesterday.

Maj. Rodolfo Cordero Jr., 401st Infantry Brigade commander and civil-military  officer, said Insayoy’s brother received a phone call from suspected NPA rebels on where to get the remains of the victim.

The rebels reportedly killed Insayoy because he convinced his nephew, an NPA fighter, to surrender. 

In Samar, two communist guerrillas were killed in an encounter with soldiers of the 63rd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Carolina, Matuguiano yesterday.

Lt. Gen. Noel Clement, Central Command chief, said soldiers recovered the guns of the slain rebels. – With Ben Serrano, Michael Punongbayan