TACLOBAN
CITY, July 27 -– The Philippine National Police has recognized the bravery of a
junior police officer who was wounded during a hot pursuit operation against
members of private armed groups in Sta. Margarita, Samar.
PNP
Eastern Visayas Regional Director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar pinned the medal
to Police Officer 1 Ringy Boy Tomale of Catbalogan City at the latter’s
hospital room in this city Wednesday night.
Tomale
was wounded in his left arm while chasing private armies on the night of July
23 in Lambao village, Sta. Margarita town. The lawless group were tagged as suspects
in the killing of a farmer in Bahay village earlier on the same day.
“Although
one of our police was injured, the hot pursuit operation killed a private army
and arrested two of his wounded companions,” Beltejar told reporters.
“This is
a major breakthrough against private armed groups. The two arrested persons
have vital information and we expect them to tell us about their handlers,” he
added.
The
police also recovered assorted firearms and ammunition during the operation.
Tomale,
who joined the police in 2013, thanked the PNP for the wounded personnel medal.
“I am
more determined to help in any effort to disband all members of private armed
groups in Samar. I want my home province to be peaceful,” Tomale said.
Last
year, the government launched a crackdown against private armies in Samar in
the bid to end election-related violence. The group is being used by some
politicians to harass their opponents, according to the police.
Recently,
the PNP filed cases against large members of Deborbon private armed groups
allegedly involved in the latest shooting incident.
Major
follow up operations will be done by the Samar police provincial office to hunt
down identified private armies.(Sarwell Q. Meniano/PNA)
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