Philippines – Two policemen were ambushed by suspected Communists
rebels while on their way to secure confiscated logs in Butuan City
Monday, according to the CARAGA regional police.
Police Officer 2 Adones Dumaboc died while PO2 Sergio Sergio Salagoste was injured.
Senior Superintendent Mario Soriano, acting CARAGA regional director, said the rebels also took the two M16 rifles of the victims.
Senior Superintendent Mario Soriano, acting CARAGA regional director, said the rebels also took the two M16 rifles of the victims.
Soriano said the two cops were supposed to augment a small group of
policemen who confiscated illegally-cut logs at Esperanza Veneer
Corporation when they were waylaid at around 10 a.m. in Barangay Bit-os
in Butuan City.
“The attackers used landmines as revealed by the recovered explosive materials in the area,“ said Soriano.
After the blast, the official said the rebels also fired at the
policemen who were on board a motorcycle when the incident occurred.
“Our investigators recovered more or less 100 pieces of empty shells from the different caliber of firearms,“ he said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) learlier intensified the
antiillegal logging activities in CARAGA region following the onslaught
of tropical storm “Ondoy“ last year that left more than 1,000 dead.
The regional director of CARAGA region was relieved last week for
failure to stop illegal logging activities as well as eight police
commanders in June this year.
Both the police and the military have accused local communist rebels
of protecting illegal logging activities in CARAGA and nearby provinces.
