Samar law enforcer killed in NPA ambush

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – A policeman was killed while five others, including the police chief of Calbayog City, cheated death when 30 communist rebels ambushed them in Sta. Rita, Samar yesterday morning.

Chief Superintendent Eliseo de la Paz, Eastern Visayas police director, said PO1 Bernatmar Hassan Ben-Wadja, nephew of Senior Superintendent Asdali Abah, Samar police director, died from a bullet wound in the back.

Those who survived the ambush were Superintendent Isiah Tonog, Calbayog police chief, and Senior Superintendent Lito Bigoy, commander of the provincial police group, their security escorts PO1 Larin Gallas, PO3 Orlando Cañada, and SPO1 Patricio Pinanggay, and driver, PO1 Lemuel Concrenio.

The group was waylaid as they were on their way to the regional police headquarters in Tacloban City on board a patrol car.

Abah, who rushed to the ambush scene in Barangay Binalan, Sta. Rita town, said the group’s vehicle was damaged when it hit an improvised landmine. After the blast, the rebels opened fire.

De la Paz said elements of the Sta. Rita and Basey police and the Army’s 62nd and 52nd Infantry Battalions were pursuing the rebel-ambushers.

De la Paz said Tonog’s group was probably not the target of the insurgents, but that of Col. Francis Lanuza, commanding officer of the Army’s 801st Infantry Brigade, who was to attend an affair in Pinabacdao town.