Cop in Northern Samar ambush dies

Northern Samar map

TACLOBAN CITY — A policeman who suffered injuries after their group was ambushed in Northern Samar province died on Tuesday, April 5.

Patrolman Rico Borja, 31, passed away at the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital in Catarman town at 9:45 p.m.

Borja was among those brought to the hospital due to blast injuries following an encounter with members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay San Miguel, Las Navas town, also in Northern Samar, last Monday, April 4.

Patrolman Harvie Lovino Jr. died during the ambush.

READ: Cop slain, 5 others wounded in Northern Samar ambush

Three soldiers and another policeman were also injured and were already in stable condition.

Brigadier General Bernard Banac, the police regional director, expressed his condolences to the family of Borja.

“We sincerely sympathize with the family of Patrolman Borja for his untimely death. His bravery in putting service first above anything else makes him a true hero. I know nothing can compensate for his sudden loss but I am certain that justice will be served in due time,” he said in a statement.

Banac said Borja’s family will receive assistance from the government.

The police regional director has directed policemen to conduct a hot pursuit operation to arrest those responsible for the ambush which killed two of his men.