A police officer was wounded when a group of illegal loggers attacked his team who was sent to check on the stockpile of illegally cut logs in Peñablanca, Cagayan last Thursday night.
Police Brig. Gen. Crizaldo Nieves, director of the Cagayan Valley police, identified the wounded cop as Police Lt. Randy Baccay, deputy chief of the Peñablanca Municipal Police Station.
But Nieves said the local policemen stood their ground and traded shots with illegal loggers. They were able to arrest one of the attackers later identified as 45-year old Ernest Sibbaluca.
Following the widespread flooding in Cagayan and Isabela during typhoon “Ulysses,” Philippine National Police chief Police Gen. Debold Sinas ordered a crackdown on illegal logging in Cagayan Valley which was blamed as one of the reasons for the flooding.
Nieves said the local police were informed about a stockpile of timber in Sitio Dalayat in Barangay Minanga. A team of policemen led by Baccay was sent to the area to check.
As they were inspecting the area, a group of armed men started shooting at them, resulting in a gun battle.
Baccay was immediately evacuated to a nearby hospital for treatment while Sibbaluca was taken to the Peñablanca Police Station for investigation.
Sinas instructed Nieves to extend P50,000 financial assistance for the medical expenses of Baccay.
“I have also ordered a manhunt against those responsible for this attack. More aggressive police operations will continue against illegal logging activities,” said Sinas.
Sibbaluca is facing criminal charges for direct Assault upon an agent of authority and frustrated murder. (Aaron Recuenco)