HOT pursuit operations are underway by police commandos and military forces in Northern Samar against a group of communist-terrorists of the CPP-NPA-NDF that figured in an encounter with police students on Saturday.
The PNP Air Unit sprung into action to provide air support to ground operation and medical evacuation of wounded police personnel while military forces from the Philippine Army 803rd Brigade were alerted to provide combat support.
Reports reaching the PNP Command Center in Camp Crame from Police Regional Office-8 disclosed the death of two police rookies and the wounding of four other police personnel when the communist-terrorists detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
All casualties are police students undergoing the Special Action Force Commando Course (SAFCC) who were engaged with undetermined number of CPP-NPA terrorists at 7:00AM in Barangay Lonoy, Gamay town.
Their identities were withheld pending notification of their families.
The SAFCC students were alerted by the local Barangay Information Network about the presence of armed men in the community.
PNP Chief, Police General Dionardo Carlos quickly condemned the local communist movement for the latest acts of violence on government forces even as he assured medical treatment of the wounded and benefits to the orphaned families of the deceased.
“Pursuit operations will continue without let-up against these criminals while I ordered police forces in the area to establish more checkpoints and prevent the possible escape of the fleeing terrorists. We will make sure that justice will be served, and the deaths of our fellow law enforcers will not be in vain,” Carlos added.
