PNP chief, Gen. Archie Gamboa. (File photo)
MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Archie Gamboa ordered a manhunt against communist rebels behind the attack at a quarantine checkpoint that wounded four police officers in Concepcion, Misamis Occidental on Thursday.
In a statement Friday, PNP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said Gamboa also instructed Police Regional Office 10 (Northern Mindanao) director, Brig. Gen. Rolando Anduyan to ensure that the four wounded personnel will be given immediate medical attention.
“As of now, they are recovering in two different hospitals in Concepcion and Ozamis City,” Banac said.
In a report from the PRO-10 submitted to Camp Crame, personnel of the Concepcion Municipal Police Station were manning an advance command post in Barangay Putongan when New People's Army (NPA) rebels belonging to the Guerilla Front "Sendong" opened fire at them shortly before 8 a.m. on Thursday.
Although wounded in the firefight, the four police officers on duty -- Cpl. Marvin Inton, S/Sgt. Larry Millan, Cpl. Leo Gumisad and Pat. Ritchel Tañola took defensive positions and held their ground, killing one of the attackers.
Members of the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company of Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Office and soldiers from the Philippine Army responded to the encounter site to provide reinforcement and blocking forces against the rebels.
Crime scene investigators continue to gather more pieces of evidence to establish the identity of the NPA rebel who died in the encounter.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
