By Nino Luces
CAMP OLA, Legazpi City - Four police officers survived in an ambush happened Friday morning along the National Highway, Brgy Biyong, Masbate City.
Senior Inspector Malu Calubaquib, spokesperson of Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5) identified the victims as SPO2 Ariel L. Espiel, PO2 Leo Michael Azares, PO2 Melmar Rapsing and PO2 Rosalito Apoya II, member of Masbate City Police Station based at Community Police Assistance Center in Bayombon, Masbate City.
Initial investigation disclosed that while victims were onboard to issued utility vehicle of LGU Masbate and purposely to attend the scheduled symposium at Capitolina Ogaya Legazpi Memorial High School (COLMHS) Quadrangle was ambushed with the use of an improvised explosive device (IED) by suspected members of New People's Army.
Calubaquib said all the victims were all wounded during the incident while the service vehicle sustained damages.
Victims were immediately brought to Masbate Doctor's Hospital for medical treatment.
Recovered from the site were 1 cut steel bar more or less two inches long entrenched at the back seat of the service vehicle and 1 piece of empty fired cartridge casing for M16 rifle.