4 hurt in IED blast in Sorsogon

LEGAZPI CITY –– Three civilians and a police officer were wounded when two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) exploded on the national highway in Pilar town in Sorsogon province on Monday, Feb. 22.

Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said  Corporal Jeffry Enconge Putian and three civilians were injured and taken to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching and Hospital (BRTTH) in this city for treatment. The identities of the civilians were yet to be determined.

Calubaquib said suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels planted the IEDs meant to ambush a Philippine National Police (PNP) truck carrying 11 policemen from the 92 Special Action Command.

The truck was bound for the PNP Bicol headquarters in Camp Simeon Ola in this city for the mandatory reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction testing for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

A report said the policemen were in Barangay Putiao at 7:25 a.m when fired upon by an unknown number of NPA guerrillas.

The rebels allegedly set off two IEDs along the highway, and a 20-minute firefight ensued.

The police troops engaged the NPA members in the brief firefight, prompting the rebels to flee.

The bomb attack also caused minor damage to the unit’s Gazelle Truck.

Clearing operations were being conducted in the area as of Monday noon.

LZB