Cop, relatives, bystanders hurt in Ecija ambush

STO. DOMINGO, NUEVA ECIJA—A policeman, three of his relatives, and two bystanders among them a minor, were wounded when armed men fired at their pick-up truck along the provincial road in Barangay (village) Mambarao here at about 7:30 pm on Friday (Dec. 1).

PO3 Christopher Delfin, who is assigned at Camp Olivas in Pampanga, was hurt in the attack along with his 26-year-old brother Pedro Jay; cousin Reynold Hernandez, 33; and Eric Pardo, 28, all of Quezon town in Nueva Ecija, said Chief Insp. Erwin Ferry, acting chief of police.

The police official said Pedro Jay, the driver, sustained the most serious wounds.

During the attack, stray bullets hit bystanders Rommel Ignacio, 30, and John Orlanarquez, 16, both residents of the said village, police said.

Raymundo Delfin, the policeman’s uncle, was unharmed. He was seated at the back of the truck.

They were driving home to Quezon town from a cockfight derby here when the ambush happened, police said.

But they were tailed by a Toyota Fortuner and a Honda CRV. As soon as they drove close to the victims’ truck, the occupants of these vehicles opened fire with M-16 assault rifles.

The victims were rushed to different hospitals in Cabanatuan City. /jpv