TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Two trainees of the police Special Action Force were killed, while four SAF officers were wounded in an ambush by New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Gamay, Northern Samar on Saturday, authorities reported yesterday.
Patrolmen Franklin Marquez and Jimmy Caraggayan died at the scene when an improvised explosive device that was planted by the NPA went off at around 7:30 a.m.
The team was responding to a report that a group of armed were spotted in Barangay Lonoy.
The wounded officers were taken to a hospital for treament.
A pursuit operation was launch for the fleeing rebels.
On Sunday, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos visited the wounded SAF men and awarded them the Medalya ng Kagitingan.
Carlos also gave financial assistance to the SAF officers as well as to the relatives of the fatalities.
The remains of the fallen SAF trainees will be flown to Manila today, where their families are waiting.
Carlos condemned the attack on the government forces.
“Pursuit operations will continue against these criminals. Checkpoints have been set up in the area to prevent this communist-terrorists frm fleeing,” Carlos said.