MANILA, Philippines — A police officer and an inmate were killed in an ambush believed staged by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Logero, Marabut, Samar on Thursday.
Cpl. Earl Hembra was shot in the head and died at the scene.
The inmate, Nestor Lumagpas Jr., suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He died while being treated in a hospital in Tacloban City.
Hembra and two other police officers were escorting Lumagpas to a court hearing in Basey town when they were waylaid in Barangay Logero at around 12:56 p.m.
The vehicle was also reportedly hit by a landmine.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas ordered Eastern Visayas police director Brig. Gen. Ronald de Jesus to conduct pursuit operations for the rebels.
“The PNP joins the Filipino civil society in strongest condemnation of this latest manifestation of disregard for human life by the communist New People’s Army,” Sinas said.
He took exception to the use of landmines, which had been outlawed in armed conflict.