4 Mariveles foresters slain

BALANGA CITY — Four members of the forest protection unit of Mariveles, Bataan were killed and a fifth one was seriously wounded when unidentified men ambushed them yesterday morning, police said.

Reports reaching Camp Tolentino identified the fatalities as Nhelian Arellano, Jimmy Gloriano, Eduardo Macayayong and Virgilio Fortuna, and the wounded as Rodolfo Alfonso.

Elements of the Mariveles police, the 304th Police Mobile Group and the Army’s 24th Infantry Battalion are hot on the trail of the ambushers.

Reports said the foresters were waylaid as they, acting on a tip, were trying to catch a group of illegal loggers in the forests of Barangay Alas-asin. — Raffy Viray, Ric Sapnu