Rookie cop dead, 5 others wounded in NPA ambush in Northern Samar
Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, director of the Eastern Visayas regional police, ordered on Monday, April 4, an all-out pursuit operation against a group of communist rebels tagged in the ambush of police and military personnel that left a policeman dead in Las Navas town of Northern Samar.
"I have already directed the conduct of checkpoints in alba adjacent areas and a check on all nearby hospitals and escape routes as part of the pursuit operations," said Banac.
Based on the report, the policemen and soldiers were on their way to the police station from their posts to get their booster shots against Covid-19 when suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) detonated a roadside bomb as their vehicle passed in Barangay San Miguel in Las Navas town at around 1 a.m. on Monday, April 4.
This resulted in the death of Patrolman Harvie Lovino, assigned to the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company.
A gun battle then ensued which forced the communist rebels to flee.
Wounded in the ambush were Patrolman Rico Borja, Patrolman Leandro Luciano Bulosan, Army Corporal Arvin Papong, Private First Class Whilydell Jic Rodona and Private First Class Wilmer del Monte.
All the wounded victims were taken to a hospital in Catarman.
"We condemn this attack and we will surely file cases against those responsible," said Banac.