CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A four-month old infant and a police officer died in an ambush carried out by suspected members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, November 9, 2017, in Brgy. Tikalaan, Talakag, Bukidnon.
An estimated 30 armed men ambushed law enforcers from the Bumbaran Municipal Police Station onboard their patrol vehicle, and also fired upon a Toyota Fortuner SUV that happened to be tailing the PNP patrol car near the Kilometer 28 mark of the Cagayan de Oro-Dominorog-Kalilangan road.
Police Superintendent Lemuel Gonda, Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) spokesman, identified the victims as 4 month-old female child Machorao Malysha and Senior Police Officer 3 Arnel Carillo.
Wounded were Sittie Ali, 53, who sustained a gunshot wound on her left chest, and Ali Aminsalam 37, who sustained a gunshot wound on her right arm.
The two were among the eight passengers onboard the Toyota Fortuner.
Also wounded in the incident were Inspector Joven Penon Acuista, Chief of Police in Bumbaran, SPO1 Pacifico Cabudoy, PO1 Nathaniel Ibal, and a certain Alexander Maniscan.
Gonda said the passengers of the private vehicle were heading back to their residence in Brgy. Kili-kili, Wao, Lanao del Sur from Cagayan de Oro City, while the policemen were on their way back to the Bumbaran Municipal Police Station.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army 4th Infantry Division (4ID) reported that responding troops of the 1st Special Forces Battalion recovered an Improvised Explosive Device apparently being used as a landmine, 200 meters of wire, detonating cords, empty shells of AK-47 rifle ammunitions, and subversive documents at the area where the incident transpired.
“We condemn yet another barbaric act of the rebels for their lack of regard to human life, most especially non-combatants, as evidenced by their indiscriminate use of firearms against civilians in this incident,” Brig. Gen. Eric Vinoya, Commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, said.
For his part, Police Chief Supt Timoteo Pacleb said the attack showed “that their claimed ideology of being pro-people or pro-poor is just a farce.”
“We extend our sympathies to the bereaved family of the child and SPO3 Arnel Carillo, who died in the ambush and to Insp Acuista and his men who were likewise wounded,” he added.
