PNP hails bravery of Misamis Oriental police

MANILA, Philippines—Rebels may be seeing the police stations in far-flung areas, particularly areas in Mindanao, as ‘soft targets’ but the officers assigned to such areas should not be underestimated, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.

Speaking to reporters at Camp Crame about the attack on the Medina police station in Misamis Oriental last Thursday, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said that even when outnumbered, the four officers on duty resisted the attack of roughly 30 suspected members of the New People’s Army.

“Nagkamali po sila ng pag-estima dito sa ating mga kasamahan. Akala po nila na kapag overwhelming po sila pumasok or magtangkang pumasok sa mga istasyon ay magsusurrender at susuko agad ang ating kasamahan (They underestimated our colleagues. They thought that if they would attack a station in overwhelming number our colleagues would surrender easily),” said Cruz.

He said the four officers shot it out with the assailants for around 45 minutes, killing one rebel. “Kahit na nauubusan na ng bala yung mga kapulisan ay patuloy pa din lumaban (Even when our police officers ran out of bullets they still continued to fight),” he stated.

Cruz revealed that the reinforcement, led by the police chief of the station who had been patrolling a nearby public market when they heard about the attack, had even been ambushed on their way to the station but still managed to fight off the rebels.

Senior Police Officer Editho Bayhon was killed in the shootout while three other lawmen SPO2 Rene Rombo, SPO1 Alvin Tejano, SPO1 Diosdado Sendiong Jr. were hurt.

He said pursuit operations by members of the Philippine Army were ongoing.