PNP: Stand-off ongoing between cops, armed men at Abra town vice mayor’s residence

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has confirmed that a stand-off between local police and armed men is ongoing at the residence of Vice Mayor Jaja Josefina Disono of Pilar town, Abra, where the suspects who evaded a checkpoint took refuge.

PNP Public Information Office (PNP-PIO) chief Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba said in a statement on Tuesday that the stand-off happened after officers manning a checkpoint in Pilar town tried to flag down a white Toyota Hi-ace van.

Instead of stopping, the van ignored and ran through the checkpoint, causing  injuries to two police officers who were hit by the speeding vehicle.

“A stand-off is ongoing at the house of Vice-Mayor Jaja Josefina Disono in Pilar, Abra where armed men sought refuge after running through a police checkpoint injuring two policemen and shooting at a police patrol car that gave chase,” Alba said in a message to reporters.

“Police teams from Pilar Municipal Police Station and the Cordillera Regional Mobile Force Battalion are at the residence of Vice-Mayor Disono negotiating for a peaceful surrender of the driver of Toyota HiAce van who deliberately run through a police checkpoint and injuring two police personnel manning a PNP checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion at 10:30AM,” he added.

Officers conducted a pursuit operation, but armed men inside the Hi-Ace van opened fire at the marked PNP vehicle, causing damage to the mobile’s windshield.

The van then entered the residence of Disono.

“During an ensuing chase, an occupant of the fleeing van fired at a marked PNP patrol car No. 557 of Pilar MPS, hitting the vehicle in the front windscreen,” Alba said.

“Field reports are still sketchy at the moment, but we expect to obtain more detailed information from PRO-Cordillera Regional Director, Police Brigadier General Ronald Lee who is now on his way to the area to personally assess the situation,” he added.

Earlier, the Police Regional Office of the Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO-COR) clarified that they are not harassing the local government official, saying that it is a legitimate hot-pursuit operation.

“Just to set the record right, there is no harassment but a legitimate hot-pursuit operation […] For reiteration, there is no harassment but what is happening now in Pilar, Abra is a legitimate hot-pursuit operation,” PRO-COR said in a Facebook post.

“As of the press time, police officers have cordoned off the area where the said TOYOTA HIACE which ignored the checkpoint has fled,” it added.

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