PNP mourns death of 3 cops in Samar
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) mourned Wednesday the death of three policemen who were killed while serving an arrest warrant in Sta. Margarita, Samar.
PNP chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. ordered all-out efforts to bring justice to Staff Sergeant Christian Tallo, Corporal Eliazar Estrelles Jr. of the 1st Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company and Master Sgt. Paul Terence Paclibar of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the Police Regional Office 8..
Also wounded during the gunfight were Corporals Rannel Pedamato and Mark Jason Sixta and Patrolmen Ham Kritnere Capalis and Mark Redoblado.
The Samar policemen engaged a group of armed men led by murder suspects Edito Ampoan Jr. in a fierce gunfight in Brgy. Mahayag, Sta. Margarita around 5:00 a.m. Tuesday.
The policemen were out to arrest Ampoan for murder and his co-accused Jojo Alterejos and Rogelio Macorol when the suspects opened fire on them.
The ensuing gunbattle led to the arrest of four suspects who were found in possession of an M-16 automatic rifle, a caliber .45 semi-automatic pistol and several live ammunition.
Members of the Sta. Margarita Municipal Police Station, the 1st SPMFC and the 804th and 805th Mobile Companies of the RMFB8 were ordered to pursue the rest of the gunmen who managed to flee at the height of the encounter.
“Their sacrifice will forever be etched in the history of the Philippine National Police as a shining example of courage and dedication,” Acorda said.
