BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The Cagayan provincial government yesterday condemned last Sunday’s ambush slay of a town’s police chief and four other officers, by suspected communist rebels in one of the province’s remote towns.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly killing of our five police officers. Such has no place in a civilized society like ours here in Cagayan,” said Vice Gov. Leonides Fausto.
Fausto said that the provincial board, which he heads, would initiate a parallel investigation into the ambush to unmask the identities of the perpetrators as well as the possible brains behind the incident.
Fausto, however, did not confirm or deny Army and police reports that the New People’s Army (NPA) was the one responsible for the killing of the five police officers, including Chief Inspector Antonio Rueco, police chief of Cagayan’s southwestern Rizal town about 3 p.m. last Sunday.
Also killed in the ambush at Barangay Illuru Sur were Rueco’s wife, SPO2 Maryjane Rueco and his nephew PO2 Herminio Rueco as well as PO2 Jose Baquiran and PO1 Joven Jimenez. One PO1 Valiant Bustamante also sustained gunshot wounds from the attack.
Meanwhile, SPO4 Edison Lagua, Rueco’s missing escort who was earlier reported to be missing, is now undergoing debriefing at the Rizal police office, reports said.
According to the 5th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army in Isabela, the victims were on their way to Tuguegarao City from Rizal town when their service vehicle was hit by a landmine explosion, after which, a volley of gunfire from their attackers followed, which led to their instant death.
Reports said that the police chief’s wife served as a judge at a beauty pageant in Rizal town and were already heading home in Tuguegarao when they were waylaid.
The Philippine Army slammed anew the NPA for using a landmine in last Sunday’s attack.
“We condemn the NPAs for using another killer landmine,” Army spokesman, Col. Antonio Parlade said. He assured that the Army will exert all efforts to help get justice for the victims. The NPA’s Danilo Ben Command is said to be behind the latest carnage. – With AP - By Charlie Lagasca and Jaime Laude
