2 Masbate policemen killed in NPA ambush

LEGAZPI CITY – Two policemen were killed and two others were critically wounded when New People’s Army (NPA) rebels ambushed them in Burias Island, Masbate Wednesday morning, authorities said.

Senior Superintendent Eliciar Bron, spokesman of the Bicol police command, identified the two fatalities as Inspector Franco Andes, team leader of the 5th Police Regional Mobile Group, and P01 Emanie Enriquez of the San Pascual town police.

Bron said the policemen went to Barangay San Pedro, about eight kilometers from the San Pascual town proper, to verify a report from the mayor’s driver that a group of armed men had put up a checkpoint on the national road.

When they arrived in the village, a land mine went off and about 50 rebels opened fire, triggering a 30-minute gunfight.

Bron said Andes was thrown out of the vehicle after being hit in the left cheek.

Bron identified the wounded policemen as P01 Emmie Enriquez, P01 Allan Villamor, and P01 Arce Laurio Jr.

Meanwhile, three policemen were wounded in a 10-minute firefight with NPA rebels in Cataingan, Masbate last Monday morning.

Wounded were P03s Mario Abonita and Alejandro Legazpi and P01 Elmer Ngoho, all of the 507th Provincial Police Mobile Group.