3 killed in NPA ambush in Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines — A policeman and two civilians were killed while 17 others were wounded in an ambush allegedly staged by members of the New People’s Army in Barangay Libuton, Borongan City, Eastern Samar, on Friday afternoon.

The fatalities were identified as Patrolman Mark Jerome Rama, 27, and civilians Agripena Traboco, 69, and Anthony Docena, 50.

Docena died while he was being rushed to a hospital in Tacloban City.

Loud explosion

Based on the report of the Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas based in Palo town in Leyte province, policemen from the Public Safety Force were on board their patrol vehicle around 2:53 p.m. on Friday when they were fired upon by an undetermined number of rebels.

A loud explosion believed to be from an improvised explosive device was heard followed by bursts of gunfire, the report said.

Wounded were Patrolmen Rick Capoquian Jr., 25, who was hit in his right eye; Rey Sobrepeña, 28, who sustained a head injury; Michael Frank Pajanustan and Kevin Operario, 28, both hit in the different parts of their bodies.

A local government-owned L-300 van and a motorcycle were also hit by the explosion.