8 police officers killed by rebels in Northern Samar ambush

TACLOBAN City, Philippines  – Communist rebels killed eight police officers in the outskirts of Catarman, capital of Northern Samar, and took their weapons and uniforms in a daring ambush Saturday that could be a prelude to escalation of attacks against government forces in the region.

The New People’s Army (NPA), armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP), earlier executed a village councilman identified as Rolando de Guia, then waylaid responding authorities sent to investigate the execution.

Army and police reports identified the policemen-fatalities as Senior Inspector Nicasio San Antonio, deputy police chief of Catarman, SPO3 Juanito Julio, SPO1 Juancho Estiron, PO3 Marlon Estrimera, PO2 Marcial Espilembergo Velardi, PO1 Arnel Saludario, PO2 Rodel Balag and PO1 Edgar Cabales Catunbay.

The group was aboard a Hilux patrol vehicle, which was initially crippled by two roadside improvised bombs planted by the rebels, when they were simultaneously hit with volleys of fire coming from a hill where the ambushers took position.

Numbering around 40, the rebels then inspected their victims and executed those they found to be still alive.

The rebels took the policemen’s seven handguns and four M16 rifles, stripped their victims of their clothes and other personal belongings, then torched the vehicle before fleeing.

The insurgents, led by a certain Ka Nordan (Salvador Nordan), are now being pursued jointly by Army troops led by the 802nd Infantry Brigade and local and provincial policemen.

“We have already inserted Scout Ranger and K9 units under Col. Oscar Lopez into the area and are now pursuing the fleeing insurgents,” Army chief Maj. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said.

Prior to the carnage, a certain Editha Natividad of Barangay Imelda texted the Catarman police station that about ten armed men entered their village at about 5:30 a.m. and executed de Guia.

Upon receipt and validation of the report, Nicasio organized a police team and immediately proceeded to the area, only to fall into the rebel’s trap.

“All our policemen were killed. Those who were still alive were also executed before being stripped of their clothes and other personal belongings,” said Senior Superintendent Manuel Cubillo, Eastern Visayas police spokesman.

PNP condemns attack

Meanwhile, the PNP leadership condemned the carnage and described the actions of the NPA rebels as “very brutal” and “inhuman.”

“Not only did they use a land mine against the policemen which is banned by the Geneva Convention, they also finished off the survivors of the attack, execution style,” said PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Agrimero Cruz.

“This dastardly act indicates that the CPP-NPA are indeed wolves wearing sheepskin, who on the outside espouse peace initiatives, but on the inside are murderers who pounce treacherously on their innocent prey,” added Cruz.

Cruz said some of the policemen killed in the attack had massive injuries to the face, as if repeatedly hit by rifle butts, and they were shot from close range. – With Jaime Laude, Mike Frialde, AP