By TARA YAP
ILOILO — Four policemen died while 31 others were injured after a police truck fell off a mountain road in Alimodian town, Iloilo province, Saturday afternoon.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO-6), identified the four fatalities as Police Corporal Emerson Peñarubia, Police Patrolman Rex Agupitan, Police Patrolman Prince Angelo Supiter, and Police Patrolman Antonio Tumanday Jr.
The four cops were under PRO’s 601st Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB). They were among the 35 who were onboard a patrol truck, which fell while traversing Ginomoy village past 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Police Executive Master Sergeant Ev Baclay of Alimodian police said the truck was on its way back to its headquarters after a minor combat operation when the incident occurred.
The truck, driven by Police Patrolman Francis Prudente, flipped over when it fell and pinned down several others including Police Captain Bonifacio Alabe, the commanding officer.
Rescue workers, including the ones from Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), had to cut apart the truck with heavy equipment to be able to remove Alabe and others.
Baclay said the surviving cops were also taken to a hospital in Alimodian town while those with serious injuries were taken to hospitals in Iloilo City.
The police denied reports that the incident was result of an attack by the New People’s Army (NPA).
