‘Misencounter’ leaves 6 cops dead soldiers disarmed, camp restricted as probes start

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Major General Raul Farnacio, commander of the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division, had ordered the 27 soldiers of the 87th Infantry Battalion disarmed and put under camp restriction, while investigations are going on into the “misencounter” between the police and the military troops.

The bloody gunbattle, lasting about 30 minutes, between two government forces, took place at sitio Lonoy in Barangay San Roque of Sta. Rita town in Samar at around 9:20 a.m. Monday, and resulted in the death of six policemen and the wounding of nine others, all of whom belonged to the Regional Mobile Force Battalion-8.

The six policemen who were killed were Police Officers 1 Wyndell Noromor, Edwin Ebrado, Phil Reu Mendigo, Julius Suarez, Rowell Reyes, and Julie Escalo.

The nine who were wounded were: Police Officers 1 Elmer Pan, Cris Angelo Pialago, Romulo Cordero, Joenel Gonzaga, Rey Barbosa, Roden Goden, Jaime Galoy, Romel Bagunas, and Janmark Adones.

Chief Inspector Raymond Suspiñe, the leader of the police troops, escaped unscathed and was able to radio for reinforcement. The firefight ended when reinforcements from the police arrived. It was only then that the soldiers realized their mistake.

PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde arrived at the Tacloban City airport yesterday afternoon to visit the wake of the six slain policemen. A second autopsy was conducted later by the Scene of the Crime Operatives from the Police Regional Office-8.

A press statement from the 8th ID said there was no casualty reported on the military side, which was headed by 1st Lieutenant Orlando Casipit Jr. It added that the soldiers engaged in a firefight a group of armed men they saw in the area, after which the soldiers “discovered that the group were policemen who were also operating in the area.

Chief Superintendent Mariel Magaway, PRO-8 regional director, could not say if the soldiers mistook the policemen for New People’s Army rebels. “We are conducting an investigation with our counterparts from the military to find out what exactly happened,” he said.

The policemen were conducting minor combat operations that Monday morning, after receiving reports that armed groups were lurking in the area, but they were fired upon by soldiers of the 87th IB.

“Initial investigation showed that the two groups were caught by surprise, which caused both to open fire against each other. Magaway said they have formed a special investigation task group headed by the Samar Provincial Police Office who will investigate the incident.

In a radio interview, Magaway said that based on their initial investigation that the military troops were positioning at the hilly side of the area, while the policemen were at the lower ground, an estimated 50 meters away from where the soldiers were located.

Farnacio insisted that the policemen failed to coordinate with the soldiers who at that time were also conducting patrols in the area when they saw at first two armed men in "tafita" uniforms, which is usually worn by the NPA rebels, and this prompted his men to fire at the group.

"My troops must also safeguard their own security. Walang coordination na nangyari from the part of the police of the 805th RMFB, however we are ready to face any investigation and we assure the family of the victims na wala kaming itatago dito nor white wash whatever investigation we have" Farnacio said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of National Defense on Tuesday said they will form a board of inquiry that will look into the “misencounter” incident.

Farnacio said: “A joint, thorough and impartial investigation is being conducted even as we assure the public that your AFP and PNP is fully cooperating to shed light on the incident.” He also directed his ground commanders to take appropriate actions.

“The whole 8th ID family extend our condolences to the bereaved families of those who died in the armed engagement. Rest assured that this unfortunate incident will not hamper the working relations of your Army and the PNP in the region.” Farnacio said.

Meanwhile, the families of the fallen policemen cries possible foul play of the said incident as they already appealed the PNP natioal leadership to fast track the investigation fairly and squarely.