4 SAF commandos hurt in N. Samar clash with NPA rebs get PNP medals

Philippine National Police chief Dionardo Carlos visits the wounded troopers of the Special Action Force (SAF) at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center. (JOEY GABIETA/INQUIRER VISAYAS)

TACLOBAN CITY — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dionardo Carlos on Sunday visited members of the PNP’s Special Action Force (SAF) who were wounded in a clash with still undetermined members of the New People’s Army (NPA) last Saturday in Northern Samar.

Carlos, a former regional director of the Eastern Visayas police, conferred on the four wounded SAF commandos the PNP’s “Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting” and also gave each a P100,000 cash assistance.

Receiving the medals and cash assistance were Lt. Jay-R Rimorin, Lt. Jayson Banganan, Patrolman Robin Ringor, Jr., and SSg Cristobal Hen-achan. They are now recuperating at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center.

“My order to them is to rest and immediately recover,” Carlos said.

Carlos also paid his respects to SAF commandos Patrolmen Franklin Marquez and Jimmy Caraggayan who were killed in the encounter.

Marquez, Caraggayan, and the wounded commandos were among 18 SAF troopers who were on a combat mission when they encountered the NPA rebels in Barangay Lonoy of Gamay town in Northern Samar last Saturday.

The NPA rebels detonated their improvised explosive devices during the ambush.

Carlos said the fight against the communist rebels will continue.

“We will not stop until we accomplished our objective,” he said.

/MUF