NAGA CITY — Three policemen detailed to Food and Drug Administration Director General Charade Puno were killed while three others were wounded when they were ambushed by suspected communist rebels in Lupi, Camarines Sur on Thursday.
Killed in the ambush were Senior Police Officer (PO) 1 Percival S. Rafael; PO3 Carlito S. Navarroza, and PO1 Ralph Jason D. Vida.
PO1 Jonathan P. Perillo, Ruby S. Buena, and Rodolfo F. Gonzaga were wounded in the attack, Camarines Sur police said.
Initial reports said that at about 9:10 a.m., the six police officers were on board a marked vehicle en route to Daet, Camarines Norte, where Puno was scheduled to attend an event, when they were waylaid by some 20 armed men, believed to be members of the New People’s Army.
Puno was unharmed in the attack, police said.
Members of the 1st Camarines Sur Provincial Public Safety Company were able to immediately respond to the area, forcing the NPA members to withdraw.
The wounded police personnel were rushed to the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City for treatment. (Melissa Basmayor/PNA)
