TACLOBAN CITY — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has announced the temporary suspension of their anti-insurgency operations after the tragic “misencounter” between soldiers and policemen in Sta. Rita, Samar.
“It’s only temporary as we figure out the lapses. After finding out the problems and lapses, we will correct them and operate again,” Albayalde told reporters after visiting the wounded policemen confined at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center here Wednesday.
Six policemen under the 805th Mobile Company of the PNP Regional Mobile Force Battalion were killed while nine others were wounded after they figured in a firefight with soldiers of the Army’s 87th Infantry Battalion in San Roque village, Sta. Rita town on Monday morning.
The firefight took place in the middle of a heavily forested area.
The soldiers were already in the area for six days to hunt 20 members of the New People’s Army reportedly sighted on the outskirts of Sta. Rita and Pinabacdao towns.
Albayalde said the PNP sets no timeline to complete the thorough investigation on the misencounter, but they want results to come out soon.
“We are not forcing the task force to immediately provide investigation results, but we want to have the result as soon as possible since the family deserves to know what really happened,” he said.
Junior police officers Wyndell Noromor, Edwin Ebrado, Phil Rey Mendigo, Julius Suarez, Rowell Reyes and Julie Escalo were killed in action during a 20-minute gun battle with soldiers.
Wounded were rookie police officers Elmer Pan, Cris Angelo Pialago, Romulo Cordero, Joenel Gonzaga, Rey Barbosa, Roden Goden, Jaime Galoy, Rommel Bagunas, and Jonmark Adones.
The PNP presented a posthumous award and financial assistance to the family of each slain policemen while the wounded were pinned with recognition medal and given financial assistance by Albayalde.
“This was a tragic moment but this will not affect our relationship with the military,” he said. (Roel Amazona/PNA)
