MANILA, Philippines — A police captain was killed during an encounter with a group of local communist rebels in Januiay, Iloilo last Wednesday.
Police said Capt. Efren Espanto Jr., 29, was killed after sustaining a gunshot wound in the right portion of his head after a shootout with an undetermined number of armed communist rebels in Brgy. Aglobong at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Espanto was the team leader of a reconnaissance company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6, police said.
Espanto was rushed to the Federico Roman Tirador Sr. Memorial District Hospital following the firefight that lasted for 30 minutes. Espanto was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.
A pursuit operation was launched to go after the communist rebels, involved in the encounter, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa has assured that Espanto’s family will be entitled to all PNP benefits due to dependents.