A POLICEMAN was killed, while another was wounded in an ambush staged by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels while the victims were responding to an arson incident in Maria Aurora town, Aurora, on Tuesday, October 16.

Police Regional Office-Central Luzon Director Amador Corpus said Police Officer 2 Martial Ronald Buendicho Ruidera was killed, while Senior Police Officer 2 Angelo Nobleza Gawat, chief investigator of the Maria Aurora Police, was wounded when an undetermined number of rebels shot them.

The victims were on their way to Sitio Dimani, Barangay Villa around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday when the ambush happened.

Corpus said that around 5:30 a.m., the unit received a report that armed men burned a heavy equipment of a private contractor who was doing road works in the area.

“Our hearts are broken from the loss of PO2 Martial Ronald Buendicho Ruidera, who is not only a dedicated police officer but also a great person and a father, as well as the wounding of SPO2 Angelo Nobleza Gawat,” said Corpuz.

“SPO2 Gawat and the late PO2 Ruidera have been the true representation of the PNP’s mandate which is to serve and protect our people, to put ourselves in harm's way for others,” he added.

Corpus assured financial help to the bereaved family of Ruidera, as well as to Gawat, who is still undergoing treatment.

“We condemn in the strongest manner the NPA's continued acts of terrorism by conducting ambuscade on our PNP personnel who were responding to the call of duty. We urge the public to denounce these acts of violence by the NPAs and to continue to support the efforts of the PNP and the AFP by providing us information that may lead to the arrest of these perpetrators and bring them to the folds of justice,” said Corpus. (SunStar Philippines)