2 cops awarded for protecting teachers in ambush

TWO personnel of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) have received commendation and cash reward for protecting two public school teachers in an ambush in a west coast village in the city.

ZCPO officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo identified the commended cops as Senior Police Officer 3 (SPO3) Navata Juhassan and Police Officer 3 (PO3) Nurhassan Arasa -- both personnel of Police Station 8.

Juhassan and Arasa received plaque of appreciation and P5,000-cash reward each in an awarding ceremony held Tuesday, De Ocampo said.

Arasa and Juhasan returned fire and stood path even though they were in a disadvantageous position when gunmen ambushed them last February 6 at Sitio Cabigan in the village of Maasin, De Ocampo noted.

The ambush took place while Arasa and Juhassan were providing security to the school principal and a teacher of Cabigan Elementary School, he added.

The school principal and the teacher as well Juhasan were unscathed while Arasa was wounded in the ambush.

Police Station 8 commander Senior Inspector Arthur Alejandro said criminal charges are already filed against the two suspects, one of whom turned out to be a militiaman.

The suspects were identified as Arvy Francisco, a militiaman of Maasin village and Rodel Pantilanan, who remain at large, according to Alejandro. (Bong Garcia)