5 cops killed, 2 wounded in Camarines Norte skirmish

LEGAZPI CITY — Five police officers were killed while two others were wounded in an encounter with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Labo, Camarines Norte  Friday night.

Lieutenant Colonel Juancho Ibis, Labo police chief, said that the the first platoon of the 2nd Police Mobile Force Company was on patrol duty when they encountered the suspected rebels in Barangay Dumagmang at around 9:24 p.m.

Ibis identified the fatalities as Corporal Roger Estoy and Patrolmen Joey Cuarteros, Benny Ric Bacurin, Jeremy Alcantara and Alex Antioquia.

Corporal Eric Hermoso and Patrolman Aldrin Aguito were wounded in the encounter.

Pursuit operations against the suspected rebels are ongoing as of posting time, the local police said.

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