NAGA CITY — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has called for a command conference at the Camarines Sur Provincial Police Office to discuss the investigation on Thursday’s ambush in Barangay Napolidan, Lupi town that killed three police officers and injured four others.
In a closed-door conference on Friday, Albayalde directed each of the chiefs of police in the towns along the route taken by the police convoy to narrate the sequence of events. He, however, was unable to expound on the discussions as he was in a hurry to visit the policemen who were hospitalized.
The ambush took place when policemen escorting Food and Drug Administration Director General Nela Charade Puno to Daet, Camarines Norte encountered about 20 armed men suspected to be communist rebels in Napolidan, Lupi. Puno was unhurt in the incident.
Also in attendance at the conference were Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol) Director, Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal, and Camarines Sur police officer-in-charge, PSSupt. Reynaldo Pawid.
After their four-hour meeting, Albayalde proceeded to the multi-purpose hall at the Camarines Sur police grounds to pay his last respects to the fallen policemen and posthumously confer on them the “Medalya ng Kadakilaan”.
The three officers were SPO1 Percival S. Rafael, PO3 Carlito S. Navarroza, and PO1 Ralph Jason D. Vida.
“Their courage and supreme sacrifice are clear manifestations of the highest form of service and deep devotion to their sworn duties as police officers worthy of praise and pride by the Philippine National Police,” the commendation read.
Albayalde also had a brief meeting with the immediate members of the families of the victims and assured them of full support coming from their organization.
Meanwhile, the victims’ families appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to help them find justice.
Albayalde later headed for the Mother Seton Hospital in this city to visit the other injured victims.
As of press time, it could not be ascertained who was the principal target of the ambush.
Police are still pursuing the perpetrators. (Melissa Basmayor/PNA)
