NPA ambush: Rizal cop dead, 2 hurt

At least 60 heavily armed New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed a policeman, wounded two others and took three of their companions hostage during an ambush in Rodriguez, Rizal last Saturday afternoon.

The ambush that killed PO1 Rickson Aquino, of the 418th Provincial Mobile Group, was staged two days after the holiday ceasefire with the rebels ended.

Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad, Calabarzon police director, said the six policemen were responding to a report that eight armed men had burned a dump truck at the Rizal sanitary landfill in Rodriguez town when they were waylaid.

He said the rebels, who apparently had waited for days, positioned themselves in 34 foxholes along a stretch of 150 meters on a high ground overlooking the provincial road.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the NPA ambush of our men who were just responding to a call of duty. The NPAs capitalized on our men’s dedication to do their job,” Palad said.

Senior Superintendent Ireneo Dordas, Rizal police director, said the patrol vehicle of the six policemen, headed by Inspector Rex Cuntapay, hit a landmine in Sitio Calumpit, Barangay Macabud, after which the rebels opened fire.

Dordas said the attackers belong to the NPA’s Leo Velasco and Narciso Antazo Aramil commands operating in Rizal and Central Luzon.

Although outnumbered, the policemen fought back, until they were overpowered.

Palad said the rebels poured gasoline on the lawmen’s mobile car and then set it on fire, and then divested the policemen of firearms, jewelry, cell phones, and cash.

The rebels took Cuntapay and PO1s Alberto Umali, 32, and Marvin Agasen, 30, hostage.

The two wounded policemen, PO1s Ricardo Flores and Michael Taron, are now confined at the Camp Crame hospital. Doctors though have declared them out of danger.

“We will not stop until we have rescued all our three personnel from the hands of their captors. Police and military units in Bulacan, Rizal and adjacent provinces are now tracking down (the rebels),” Palad said.

Palad said they would be file charges of murder, kidnapping and arson against the rebels.