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Hunt on vs. Reds in Samar ambush

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan

December 11, 2020, 9:28 am

<p>PNP chief, Gen. Debold Sinas. <em>(File photo)</em></p>

PNP chief, Gen. Debold Sinas. (File photo)

MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Debold Sinas on Friday ordered a manhunt against the members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who ambushed on a police patrol car in Samar on Thursday, killing a police officer and critically wounding a detainee.

“We mourn the loss of another brother-in-arms, Cpl. Earl Hembra, who offered the supreme sacrifice in the service of our country and people. His death came while performing his duty as an officer of the law,” Sinas said in a statement, as he vowed “justice for the victims of this atrocity.”

Sinas has mobilized tactical and maneuver forces in Eastern Visayas on a province-wide manhunt against the suspects.

"The PNP joins the Filipino civil society in strongest condemnation of this latest manifestation of disregard for human life by the communist New People’s Army with its continued use of internationally-outlawed landmines to further propagate the communist cause to topple government and seize power thru terror and violence,” he added.

Sinas instructed Police Regional Office (PRO) 8 (Eastern Visayas) director, Brig. Gen. Ronaldo de Jesus, Eastern Visayas PNP Regional Director to mount pursuit operations against "the murderous group responsible for this affront to peace.”

In a report, de Jesus said police maneuver units from the Samar Police Provincial Office and Regional Mobile Force Battalion are now in the surrounding areas in search of the suspects.

De Jesus disclosed that at 12:56 p.m. Thursday, Hembra, together with Pat. Joseph Ricky Gacgacao, and Cpl. Jerome Distrajo, all members of the Marabut Municipal Police Station were escorting detainee, Nestor Lumagbas Jr., back to the police station from a court hearing in Basey, Samar when they were ambushed in Barangay Logero, Marabut, Samar.

Lumagbas, a former militiaman facing rape charges, was wounded in the incident.

The Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)

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