Samar gov slams attack by suspected NPA rebels resulting in death of 1 cop

TACLOBAN CITY –– Samar Gov. Reynolds Michael Tan has condemned the attack staged by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPAs) in Marabut town, which resulted in the death of one policeman.

“I condemn (this attack) as (it resulted) in loss of life which is irreparable. We should condemn all forms of killing,” he said.

Tan assured the people of Samar that the attack was an “isolated case” and that the province remained peaceful.

The governor described the ambush that killed Cpl. Lawrence Hembra as an “act of cowardice.”

Hembra, who was on board their service vehicle together with another policeman, and an inmate, died after an undetermined number of rebels fired upon them in Barangay Logero, Marabut town at 12:56 pm on Thursday.

The police officers were on their way to their police station after attending a court hearing in Basey town, also in Samar.

Tan said tourists and investors are apprehensive about coming to their province due to its armed conflict problem.

Tan said that as part of their efforts to quell the insurgency problem in Samar, the provincial government has allocated P25 million under its local social integration program, wherein a rebel member, who surrenders, would be given P100,000 as financial assistance.

“I want to end the communism problem here in Samar. People fear to come and invest here. That’s the reason why I want this to end,” the governor said.

LZB