2 policemen killed in Masbate ambush

MANILA, Philippines - Two policemen were killed yesterday in an ambush by unidentified armed men in an election hotspot in Masbate, the military said.

Reports reaching the Army’s 9th Infantry Division showed that the two victims were on board a motorcycle when they were waylaid by about five men in Malamag village at around 7 a.m.

Maj. Harold Cabunoc, spokesman of the 9th ID, said killed were PO3 Nonilon Agbones and SPO1 Nilo Abejuela, both members of the Pio Corpuz town police force. 

“The two policemen were reporting for duty when they were waylaid by heavily-armed men. The bullet-riddled bodies of the victims were immediately brought to the local police station for autopsy,” Cabunoc said in a statement.

Authorities recovered spent casings for M16 and M14 rifles in the crime scene.

The identities of those behind the ambush are still being determined. Authorities, however, are not discounting the possibility that the ambush may have been perpetrated by communist rebels.

“The crime scene is a traditional NPA (New People’s Army) ambush site. One of our town police chiefs perished in that area when he was ambushed by NPA rebels sometime in 2003,” said Senior Superintendent Thomas Seminiano, Masbate provincial director, in a statement issued by 9th ID. 

“The perpetrators seemed to have stayed for a while to spot for the victims as indicated by the food traces in their position,” he added.

Cabunoc said a platoon of soldiers has been sent to help the Masbate police run after those behind the ambush. A platoon consists of about 10 soldiers.

Masbate has been a consistent poll hotspot due to the strong presence of NPA and partisan armed groups in the area.

A total of 69 villages in Masbate have been declared as “category 1” hotspots or those with intense political rivalries. On the other hand, 103 villages have been labeled as “category 2” hotspots or areas with strong NPA presence.

The military had warned that the insurgents may conduct extortion activities during the campaign period leading to the Oct. 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

The Bicol region, where Masbate is located, is one of the areas with huge concentration of rebel troops. Other areas believed to be NPA strongholds are Samar, Negros and the Davao region.