Cagayan town police chief, 5 others killed in ambush

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – A chief of police in Cagayan, his wife, and four others were killed in an ambush by suspected communist rebels in a remote southwestern town here yesterday afternoon.

Killed were Chief Inspector Antonino Rueco, police chief of Rizal town, his wife who was not immediately identified, and his men identified only as SPO2 Rueco, PO1 Rueco, PO1 Jimenez and PO1 Baquiran.

They were aboard their service vehicle when attacked by rebels.

Wounded was one PO1 Bustamante while a certain SPO4 Lagua was reportedly missing.

The Isabela-based Army’s 5th Infantry Division reported that the victims were on their way to Tuguegarao City from Rizal town when their vehicle hit a landmine along the provincial road in Barangay Iluru Sur.

Attackers fired at the group’s vehicle, resulting in the death of the victims.

Quoting field reports, Army Col. Loreto Magundayao, chief of the 5th ID’s civil-military operations battalion, said about 30 armed New People’s Army (NPA) rebels perpetrated the ambush.

Magundayao identified the rebel leader in the ambush as David Soriano aka “Rosa” of the Danilo Ben Command.

Chief Superintendent Francisco Villaroman, Cagayan Valley police chief, said joint police and Army operatives are now pursuing the rebels who retreated towards Kalinga.