PNP exec unhurt, cop killed in Bukidnon ambush

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines  – A police official was unhurt while one of his men was killed and three others were wounded in an ambush in Bukidnon yesterday.

Cpl. Roel Sumaylo died at the scene.

The wounded – Capt. Gigi Ramil, Cpl. Jerwin Genilla and Senior M/Sgt. Giovanni Malinab – were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Brig. Gen. Joselito Salido, deputy director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Integrated Police Operation for Eastern Mindanao, and the police officers were in a convoy of three vehicles when they were attacked in Barangay Tikalaan in Talakag at around 6:40 a.m., Lt. Col. Silvestre Asiong Jr., Bukidnon police spokesman, said.

Asiong said Salido was evacuated to a nearby barangay as police officers  engaged the attackers in a firefight.

Police said New People’s Army (NPA) rebels could be behind the attack, noting that the area is a known bailiwick of communist guerrillas.

Col. Roel Lamiing, Bukidnon police director, said more police officers were deployed to secure the area.

The 4th Infantry Division said Army units were also dispatched to run after the attackers.

Salido and the police officers were on their way to the regional police headquarters in Cagayan de Oro City when they were waylaid.

Cop killed in Negros

In Negros Oriental, M/Sgt. Roldan Esmajer was gunned down along the highway in Barangay Tapon Norte, San Jose on Tuesday night. He  died while being treated at the Silliman Medical Center in Dumaguete City.

Esmajer was driving  to the police station on his motorcycle when he was shot by an unidentified man on another motorbike, according to Col. Julian Entoma, Negros Oriental police officer-in-charge.

Entoma said probers are looking into the involvement of NPA rebels in the incident.

Meanwhile, Pat. Carlo Angelo Turo of the Cagayan Mobile Force Company was wounded in an encounter with suspected NPA guerrillas in Sitio Bigoc, Barangay Alucao, Sta. Teresita, also on Tuesday.

Turo was with a group of law enforcers who responded to the reported presence of armed men in the area when they were fired at.  – With Roel Pareño, Emmanuel Tupas, Raymund Catindig, Gilbert Bayoran, John Unson, Ben Serrano