Malacañang, the Armed Forces, and Philippine National Police yesterday condemned the ambush by suspected members of the New People’s Army in Barangay Libuton, Borongan City, Eastern Samar in which a policeman and a 69-year-old woman were killed while 15 others were injured.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar condemned the attack and expressed Malacañang’s condolences to the victims.
“We vehemently condemn the NPA attack in Barangay Libuton which left two dead and wounded several individuals, including three children and policemen,” he said.
“The loss of life and the violence experienced by the victims are reprehensible. We can only imagine the grief of their loved ones who would have spent the Christmas season with them in good health, had it not been for the senseless act of these terrorists. Our thoughts go out to all of you in this difficult time,” he added.
Andanar commended the police, the emergency personnel, and the civilians who helped and protected those that they could. “Their courage and selflessness are admirable,” he said.
The military yesterday condemned the ambush which, it said, proves that the communist group does not respect human rights and does not recognize human lives.
Major Gen. Pio Diñoso III, commander of the 8th Infantry “Stormtroopers” Division based in Catbalogan, Samar, said the attack proves that the communist group does not “respect human rights and recognize human lives.”
“Mariing kinokondena ng 8th Infantry Division ang pag-atake ng CPP-NPA-Terrorists gamit ang improvised explosive device na kumitil ng dalawang buhay,” Diñoso said.
“Nagpapatunay lamang ito na hindi sila kumikilala ng mga sibilyan. Wala silang paggalang sa karapatang pantao. Higit sa lahat wala silang pahalaga sa buhay kahit na sa mga inosenteng mga bata. Wala silang konsensya,” he added.
PNP spokesman Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac branded the attack as “blatant act of un-Christian terror” by the NPA operating in Samar provinces.
“The Philippine National Police joins the entire Filipino civil society in strongest condemnation of the latest blatant act of un-Christian terror by the communist CPP-NPA against women, children, and peace officers in Borongan, Eastern Samar,” said Banac.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased while we assure care for the wounded,” he added.
The attack sparked outrage among officials in Eastern Visayas.
Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone said the local government was “appalled at the heinous acts of terror.”
“We strongly condemn this violent attack that claimed the lives of two individuals – a policeman and (a) civilian – and left several others, including three children and policemen, wounded amidst the Christmas season,” Evardone said.
The attack occurred around 3 p.m. as members of the 1st Eastern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company were travelling to the Eastern Samar Provincial Police Office in Palo, Leyte from their headquarters in Dolores, Eastern Samar.
According to a police report, the cops were onboard a patrol car when a suspected Improvised Explosive Device suddenly exploded on the roadside, hitting them and a tricycle full of passengers and a Mitsubishi L-300 van heading in the same direction.
The blast sent the patrol car down a grassy portion of the area while they were peppered with bullets by the rebels, the report added.
The incident killed Police Patrolman Mike Rama of the 1st ESPMFC, who was driving the patrol car, while four of his colleagues – Police Patrolmen Angelito Loterte, Rick Capoquian Jr., Rey Sobrepenia, and Kevin Operario – were wounded. Two other cops were unhurt.
The second fatality was identified as 69-year-old Agripena Traboco of San Julian, Eastern Samar.
Fifteen civilians, including a one-year-old girl and six-year-old and 13-year-old boys, were hurt.
The wounded civilians were identified as Jacob Chicano, 35; Marrian Esposa, 20; Carlito Esposa, 65; Mark Balayanto Cantos, 18; Florence Traboco, 39; Mary Grace Rapada, 39; Ma. Lilisania Obina, 34; and Hector Lemer Obina, 35.
The wounded police personnel and injured civilians were brought to various hospitals in Borongan City and Tacloban City.
The attack came just days after President Duterte said he ordered Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III to return to the Netherlands and talk to Communist Party of the Philippines founder Joma Sison about the possible revival of the peace talks.
Duterte terminated the talks in November 2017 due to the attacks launched by communist insurgents against government troops and civilians despite a ceasefire.
Just last month, six soldiers were killed and 20 others were injured in an encounter with alleged NPA members in Sitio Bangon, Barangay Pinanag-an, also in Borongan City. (Argyll Geducos, Martin Sadongdong, Aaron Recuenco, PNA, and Tonette Marticio)
