Rebs kill 3 ’Gapo cops, guard

OLONGAPO CITY — Suspected communist rebels fatally shot three police officers and a security guard at a highway outpost here Thursday night, police said.

The attackers, four men and two women, arrived at the outpost in a rented van and fatally shot the three officers and a visiting security guard, said Chief Inspector Eden Ugate, Olongapo police intelligence chief.

The four fatalities were identified as Senior Inspector Ernest Cruz, SPO2 Bologto Ramos, SPO1 Emerson Valdez and security guard Felix Tacbas.

Another officer, SPO1 Benjamin Quinto, was wounded.

The attackers fled after seizing two M-16 rifles from the lawmen.

The outpost is close to bars, nightclubs and beach resorts popular among foreign tourists along the highway in this city’s Barreto district.

The owner of a car rental company in Angeles City said a man and a woman who rented the van later identified themselves as members of the New People’s Army. — Bebot Sison, Ric Sapnu