Police killed in action in a Samar village

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
November 30, 2007

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  In what seemed to be a happy and joyful fiesta event turned out to be bloody when one policeman from Pinabacdao town was killed in action Wednesday during the vesper night dance in Barangay Dolores, Pinabacdao, Samar.

This was bared by PO3 Manuel Ricalde of the Samar Provincial Police Office Investigator.

Ricalde said that at 9:30 pm of November 28, a team of PNP elements led by Chief of Police P/Inspector Dioneto Romano was providing security during the fiesta celebration of said barangay when they were attacked by a team of seven to ten armed CPP-NPA.

In the ensuing firefight, PO2 Ramil Ladrera died immediately while buddy SPO2 Quirino Espino was wounded in his thigh; civilians named Analiza Solano also died due to the crossfire while some visitors from adjacent barangays of Mambog and Laygayon named Eldito Nardo and Jerwin Mantais were also wounded. Ancheta Solano, another resident of the barangay also suffered injury.

The investigation report also bared that the gunmen believed to be sparrow units of CPP-NPA carted an M14 rifle from the fallen PNP Ladrera.

Injured civilians were immediately brought to Tacloban City for treatment.

Hot pursuit operations was done by a composite team of PNP men from Calbiga, 801st Mobile Group and the men of 62nd Infantry Battalion based in Calbiga town.