By TARA YAP
Iloilo City – A daring ambush allegedly perpetrated by New People’s Army (NPA) fighters based in Maasin town, Iloilo province, Friday night, led to the death of a cop and the wounding of 10 others.
Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, spokesperson of Police Regional Office (PRO-6), identified the casualty as Police Officer 1 Jofefill Odon.
According to a police report, the victim along with other cohorts from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB-6) as led by Chief Inspector Edyliz Crucero, were attacked while traversing the village of Bolo past 6 p.m. onboard two trucks.
The rebels were said to have quickly dispersed after the policemen retaliated with gunfire.
The injured were identified as Police Inspector Joy Melvin Dulce, Police Officer 3 Jose Bana-a, and Police Officers 1 Delby Bachiller, Rolando Lozada, Vincent Yasay, Ray Ansag, Rolly Talento, Kim Cornel, Kenneth Delejero, and Paul John Banquillo.
Only two days ago, three cops were wounded in another attack that occurred in Sibalom town, Antique province.
The attack prompted Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, PRO-6 director, to order intensified offensive against communist guerrillas.