CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – Five members of the 509th Police Provincial Mobile Group (PPMG) were killed and two others were wounded while one rebel was killed in an ambush staged by the Local Terrorist Group (LTG) in Barangay Antipolo, Bulan, Sorsogon at around 1:30pm yesterday (November 9).
Quoting a report from the 903rd Infantry Brigade that reached 9ID Headquarters, Major Harold Cabunoc, the Division Spokesman, said that the incident was directly related to the robbery perpetrated by heavily armed CTs on the home of a certain Mr Gary Goyala, reported to be one of the employees of Congressman Jose Solis in Brgy J.P. Laurel, Bulan, Sorsogon. Responding to the urgent call by terrified neighbors, elements of 509th PPMG led by Police Inspector Jeffrey De Leon proceeded to the area on board a PNP Mobile patrol car. Unfortunately, the blocking elements of the armed robbers strategically positioned in Brgy Antipolo of the same municipality conducted a treacherous ambush using landmines and Molotov bombs.
Receiving an urgent call from heavily engaged PNP personnel, LTC SANTIAGO ENGINCO, battalion commander of the 49th Infantry Battalion, sent a platoon led by 1LT ALFIE LEE to reinforce the beleaguered police personnel. With their swift action, the Army troopers were able to repulse the attackers and killed one of the ambushers. Recovered in the scene were four M16 rifles owned by the PNP, 1 PNP mobile patrol car, unexploded ordnance/IEDs, and the 5 cadavers of PNP personnel. The Army troopers were able to rescue also two (2) wounded police officers, who were immediately rushed to nearby hospital.
The five (5) PNP personnel who were killed were identified as P/Ins Jefferson De Leon, PO1 George Jordan, SPO1 Johson Gerola, PO2 Darwin Detoito and PO1 Ryan Padrigue and the wounding of two others namely, PO1 Franz Guamos and PO1 Alain Lanuza. Initially, PO1 Jordan was reported missing but he was found later by responding Army soldiers.
The LTG activities were significantly hampered by series of setbacks from 9ID troopers. In September 25, 2009, nine (9) LTG members led by a certain Ka Ely, were killed in a daring raid conducted by the Scout Rangers from the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion. It was followed by the capture of four (4) LTG rebels in Brgy Maalo, Juban, Sorsogon by the 11th Scout Ranger Company and the capture of another four CPP-NPA-NDF members and the recovery of 4 high-powered firearms during a raid on November 7, 2009 in Sitio Sagpang, Siuton, Magallanes, Sorsogon.
Major Cabunoc also said that the effective ISO campaign conducted by the 9ID has pressured the CPP-NPA-NDF rebels. “They are now engaged in plain banditry to sustain their operations”, he added. In a TV interview on November 9, 2009, Nilo Escullar aka “Ka Omar” has admitted that they were indeed involved in extortion activities in remote barangays. “Mga kapatid, bumaba na kayo. Walang kabuluhan itong ipinaglalaban natin!”, Escullar was quoted over ABS-CBN Bicol.
Recovered NPA landmines and other war materiel at the ambush site Wreckage of the PNP Patrol Car caused by landmines
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