TACLOBAN CITY - Seven cops who were assisting communities survived an ambush attack by suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Pinabacdao, Samar Saturday (December 11) afternoon.
The incident transpired between Brgy. Manaing and Brgy. Pelaon of said town wherein PLt Leslie Montabon, PCMS Geroldo Distrajo, PCpl Ralph Kevin Lababo, PCpl Jomark Patrimonio, Pat Bary E Pacala, and two covert intel operatives on board a police car were waylaid by more or less twenty armed rebels.
The troops responded to a shooting incident in Brgy. Manaing victimizing a member of the CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA).They were supposed to distribute housing materials to a housing project for the poor that they initiated.
While they were traversing the provincial road in Brgy. Pelaon, they were fired upon by the NPAs positioned on the hilly portion of the said place, prompting the driver to maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road.
The troops jumped to the creek and returned fire against the enemies.
The firefight lasted for about twenty minutes with no casualties on the government side, while there were undetermined casualties on the enemy side.Despite the incident, the troops continued distributing aid to the villages and returned to their station safely.