Cop slain, 2 wounded in Surigao Sur ambuscades

TANDAG CITY, Philippines – A police officer was killed while two others were wounded in separate attacks by alleged suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Cortes, Surigao del Sur on Friday.

The rebels, said to number around 50, waylaid a police patrol car in Barangay Poblacion at around 9:30 a.m.

The insurgents, who were reportedly in two Starex vans and an Isuzu truck, reportedly set up a road block to prevent troopers from the Army’s  402nd Infantry Brigade from responding.

Senior Police Officer 4 Jesus Labastilla died at the scene while Police Officer 2 Joy Turaja was taken to a hospital for treatment, according to Superintendent Narciso Verdadero, provincial police director.

Two other officers, Senior Police Officer 2 Venson Sanchez and Police Officer 3 Rogelio Bagnol, managed to escape and return to the police station.

In the afternoon of the same day, Senior Police Officer 2 Herminio Ermila was wounded in another ambush in Barangay Matho, also in Cortes town.

Ermila, along with provincial police deputy director for operations Superintendent Edwin Noguerra, were in a patrol car when they were attacked at around 3:30 p.m. 

Ermila was taken to a hospital for treatment.