Cop in Occidental Mindoro ambush dies, death toll climbs to 3

CITY OF CALAPAN – A police officer who was critically wounded in an  ambush perpetrated by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro on Friday morning died while receiving treatment at a hospital, bringing the death toll of the bloody incident to three.

The Occidental Mindoro police said that Police Staff Sergeant Nolito Develos Jr. died at around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Two others who were killed in action Friday were Police Executive Master Sergeant Jonathan Alvares and Police Corporal Stan Gongora.

They were part of the convoy that came from a three-day service caravan and dialogue in a remote community in San Jose town, organized by the Provincial Task Force – Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict chaired by Governor Eduardo Gadiano.

The police officers were on board an open vehicle parked close to the highway when they were attacked at around 10:30 a.m.

Gadiano was part of the convoy in a separate vehicle and was unharmed.

Meanwhile, four of the eleven wounded police officers were discharged, also Friday, from the hospital after receiving treatment.

Further investigation and pursuit operations against the suspected rebels are ongoing.

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