4 cops killed, 2 boat crew hurt in Masbate ambush

LEGAZPI CITY — Four policemen were killed while two motor boat operators were wounded when New People’s Army rebels fired at them while the motorboat they were riding were nearing the shoreline of Barangay Manlot-od in Placer town, Masbate Sunday afternoon.

Senior Superintendent Eugene Alcovindas, Masbate police director, said the policemen were going to Barangay Manlot-od to conduct-search-and rescue operations as well as distribute relief goods to villagers who were affected by super typhoon Reming and typhoon Seniang when about 30 NPA guerillas fired at the motorboat at about 5:46 p.m. Sunday from the shoreline.

The gunfire hit the motorboat, forcing it to sink. The police director said PO3 Jose Blaire Banaag, PO1 Juan Compuesto, PO1 Adrew Tiu and PO1 Dominador Raymundo were initially reported missing but were later recovered by divers.

A boat crew, Nilo Delapista and an unidentified crew member were wounded while Isagani Garneg, another crew member was unharmed.

Rescuers brought the bodies of the slain policemen to a government hospital in Placer while the wounded crew members were also treated there for minor wounds.

Alcovindas said the policemen were divided into two groups on board a motorboat. The first group from the 507 Provincial Mobile Group were composed of seven policemen while three policemen from Placer police station were on board another motorboat. The policemen were led by PO3 Jose Blaire Banaag.

"Our policemen who were conducting combat, search and rescue operations as well as distribute relief items were ambushed about 30 meters from the shoreline," said Alcovindas after attending a police year-end performance evaluation at Camp General Simeon Ola yesterday morning.

"They (the policemen) were conducting search-and-rescue operations there because there were reports of missing persons there as well as affected persons who desperately need help."

Alcovindas said that the leaders of the NPA band who ambushed the policemen have already been identified, police and Army intelligence units are validating the list.

Placer, which is second to the last far-flung municipalities in the island province of Masbate, is about 100 kms from Masbate City and can be reached from one to two hours sea travel.

The police were conducting combat operations Sunday in Placer town, in Masbate province, 440 kilometers (273 miles) southeast of Manila, when New People’s Army rebels opened fire, according to field reports quoted by national police headquarters in Manila.

Four officers were killed, the reports said, but it wasn’t immediately clear what happened to the three civilians in the boat.

Government troops and the 7,200-strong rebels have clashed repeatedly as the military tries to wipe out guerrillas in key areas within the two-year deadline set earlier this year by President Arroyo.

The clashes have dimmed hopes for a resumption of stalled Norwegian-brokered peace talks. — With AP