BACOLOD CITY - The Police Regional Office (PRO)-Central Visayas is mourning the death of a policeman who was ambushed by unidentified attackers at Sitio Ipil-ipil, Barangay San Roque, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental on Monday, August 15.
Killed was Police Cpl. Rey Ambo, 37, a resident of Basay town who was assigned to the 705th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-7 based in Sta. Catalina town.
Police Chief Master Sgt. Archer Birjes, case investigator of Bayawan City Police Station, said Ambo and his colleague were in the city to monitor lawless elements as part of their job as intelligence operatives when two armed men fired at them while they were on board a motorcycle.
Birjes said the perpetrators hid in the bushes, and probably waited for them to pass by the area.
Birjes said Ambo suffered multiple gunshot wounds that caused his death, while his colleague was unharmed.
Birjes said the ambush happened in an upland part of the city where there are no inhabitants.
Police are looking into the incident as insurgency-related or work-related.
Meanwhile, a minor, who was in the area was wounded in the attack, and was brought to Bayawan District Hospital, according to the police.
In a statement, Police Brig. Gen. Roque Eduardo DP Vega, director of PRO-Central Visayas, strongly condemned this blatant act of violence to one of their gallant policemen in service.
“We are sending our prayers and condolences to the bereaved family and assure them that justice will be served," Vega said.
He ordered the city police force to conduct a pursuit operation for the possible identification and arrest of the perpetrators.