PNP condemns NPA ambush killing police official, wounding 4 others

PALO, LEYTE , Philippines  – The Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office has condemned the Saturday ambush of a convoy of Arteche town Mayor Rolando Evardone that killed a police official, wounding three others and a civilian.

ESPPO director Sr. Supt. Manuel Cubillo said the convoy just came from a raid of an illegal cockfight at Brgy. Catumsan in Arteche and was on its way home to the poblacion at around 11:30 a.m. when ambushed by an undetermined number of rebels using a landmine.

The mayor was with his police escorts consisting of a team from the 3rd Maneuver Platoon of the Regional Public Safety Battalion, and the ambush took place at Brgy. Tangbo, about 18 kilometers from the town proper.

Cubillo said convoy has nine motorcycles ahead of the mayor’s vehicle. Inspector Al Lianza Tantiado, platoon leader of the escorting police, was in the lead motorcycle that got hit by the exploding landmine. Tantiado died on the spot.

Others who were wounded were policemen, PO1s Elmer Tesado, Kenneth Tafalia and Sherwin Furtagada, and a civilian driver Noe Operio. The mayor was unhurt. 

Cubillo said initial investigation showed that the culprits of the latest NPA atrocities were led by Rodencio Deo “alias Red,” vice commander of the Radio Platoon, front 4 of the Northern Samar Party Committee.

An hour after a massive pursuit operations conducted by the police forces in the area, five more unexploded land mine were found and seized by the Scene On Crime Operatives (SOCO) along the ambush area.

“This was another very sad incident assaulting our men working to protect the people. The NPA has the capability to commit such atrocities,” Cubillo said.

In August of 2010, eight policemen were also killed in an ambush by rebels using land mines laid along the road in Brgy. Imelda of Catarman town, Northern Samar. Early this year, 10 soldiers of the 63rd Infantry Battalion were also killed in an ambush using landmine planted by the NPAs.