A POLICEMAN was killed while nine others were hurt during a daring morning shootout in Sagada, Mountain Province, known peace zone area in the Cordillera region.
Personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15, and Mountain Province Provincial Mobile Force Company were conducting peacekeeping operations on Tuesday, June 5, when they encountered an undetermined number of armed rebels at Mt. Sipitan, Barangay Aguid.
The security forces were conducting operations to prevent the reported extortion and other criminal activities by members of an armed group when the incident occurred.
Police Officer 2 Henry Dion died during the shootout while Superintendent Joseph Cayat, Police Officer (PO) 3 Wilfred Manacnis, PO1 Aldrin Bocalan, PO1 Clarence Abuan, PO1 Antolin Potpoten, PO1 Xander Depnag, PO1 Jake Paat, PO1 Yasser Guzman, and PO2 Regie Palome were wounded.
Newly-installed Police Regional Office–Cordillera regional director Chief Superintendent Rolando Nana who is set to go to Mountain Province to personally check on the dead and wounded personnel have directed all chiefs of police to coordinate with the heads of government hospitals and private clinics in Mt. Province and check on any person with gunshot wounds.
Nana also ordered all police to immediately conduct check points and block all possible exit point within the province.
The region’s top cop also condemned the criminal acts of the terrorists against the police officers conducting routine peacekeeping efforts in Sagada.
“Such action is considered as an act of cowardice, and a desperate move to pursue their selfish motives and prevent the police force who have been aggressive in its peacekeeping efforts to secure the civilian populace especially in the remote areas,” added Nana.
The regional police chief also called on all chiefs of police to intensify their crime prevention efforts and strengthen security in their areas of responsibility and further step up their anti-criminality strategies.
“The ultimate sacrifice of PO2 Henry Dion, will not deter, but instead motivate PROCOR personnel to enhance law enforcement activities to ensure peace and development in the region,” Nana lamented.
As such, Nana also called on the public to join hands with the authorities and provide relevant, and timely information on similar incidents to the nearest police station or through social media.
“PRO-COR leadership is appealing to the all stakeholders to assist authorities, by providing information to be used in filing criminal charges against the perpetrators, in order to give justice to the killed and wounded PNP personnel,” Nana added.