Rebel, 5 cops killed in Sorsogon ambush

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/09/2009 6:30 PM

A New People’s Army guerrilla and five policemen were killed while two other policemen were wounded in an ambush staged by the communist insurgents in Sorsogon Monday.

Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali said the fatalities and the wounded were recovered by responding troops from the Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion.

Quoting from a report from the Army’s 903rd Brigade, Detabali said the operatives of the 509th Police Provincial Mobile Group were waylaid by an undetermined number of rebels around 1:30 p.m. at the vicinity of Antipolo village in Bulan town. Detabali said the rebels had also set up a checkpoint at the nearby del Pilar village.

Troops from the 49th IB were sent out to the area and found the five slain police personnel along with two other policemen injured.

Also found in the area were four M16 rifles, apparently owned by the policemen; a patrol car which he said was damaged by an improvised explosive device; and four unexploded improvised bombs.

Detabali said the troops also recovered at the area a body of a suspected rebel who was believed killed in the firefight.

The wounded policemen were brought to the Bulan hospital for treatment.

Sorsogon is a known bailiwick area of the NPA, which President Arroyo wanted defeated on or before her term ends in June next year. Latest military estimates placed the NPA’s strength at more than 4,000.

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