CALANASAN, Apayao – Three rookie policemen drowned and five others survived after their boat capsized on the Apayao River here on Friday morning, Dec. 6.
Police identified the victims as Police Patrolman John L. Togay-an Jr. of Buguias, Benguet; Police Patrolman Resty P. Bayog of Barangay Nambaran, Tabuk City, Kalinga, and Patrolman Halteric Q. Pallat of Kabugao, Apayao.
The victims were assigned to the 2nd Apayao Police Mobile Force Company based in Conner, Apayao.
A seven-man team composed of six personnel from the 2nd Apayao PMFC led by Police Chief Master Sgt. Bernabe Dalingay Patang Jr. and a member of the Calanasan Municipal Police Station were pursuing Orland Bidoc, a farmer and a resident of Barangay Langnao, Calanasan, who was allegedly involved in a shooting incident on Wednesday night, Dec. 4, in Barangay Langnao.
Police received a report about the incident on Thursday, Dec. 5. They launched a manhunt operation and boarded a boat operated by civilian Gilbert Parao to Barangay Langnao.
Their boat capsized while crossing the swollen Apayao River due to heavy rains. The victims drowned and swept away by the strong current.
Parao, Patang and colleagues Police Patrolmen Derick Paul Unni Diza and Claybert Edel Dangao; and Police Staff Sgt. Felimon Daggay Ballouan of the Calanasan police station survived.
Police immediately conducted search and retrieval operations for the missing lawmen.
Togay-an’s remains were found on Sunday morning on the Apayao River in Flora, Apayao, and Bayog and Pallat’s recovered on Friday afternoon in Kabugao.