COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Communist rebels attacked a checkpoint of police highway patrol operatives in Makilala, North Cotabato yesterday, killing two policemen and seriously wounding four others.
Senior Inspector Joyce Birrey, Makilala police chief, identified the slain members of the Provincial Traffic Management Group as PO1 Raul Pablo and PO3 Rufino Sumugat.
The slain policemen and their colleagues were inspecting vehicles and motorcycles plying the North Cotabato-Davao City Highway when at least 30 New People’s Army guerrillas on board two light trucks arrived and without warning, fired at them with assault rifles.
Seriously wounded in the attack were SPO2 Ponciano Pahkiat and motorists Jeremias Ranon Jr., Policarpio Villarica, and Aragon Napthalia.