“It’s only temporary as we figure out the lapses. After finding out the problems and lapses, we will correct them and operate again,” Albayalde told reporters after visiting the wounded policemen confined at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center here Wednesday.
Six policemen under
the 805th Mobile Company of the PNP Regional Mobile Force Battalion were killed
while nine others were wounded after they figured in a firefight with soldiers
of the Army’s 87th Infantry Battalion in San Roque village, Sta. Rita town on
Monday morning.
The firefight took
place in the middle of a heavily forested area.
The soldiers were
already in the area for six days to hunt 20 members of the New People’s Army
reportedly sighted on the outskirts of Sta. Rita and Pinabacdao towns.
Albayalde said the
PNP sets no timeline to complete the thorough investigation on the
misencounter, but they want results to come out soon.
“We are not forcing
the task force to immediately provide investigation results, but we want to
have the result as soon as possible since the family deserves to know what
really happened,” he said.
Junior police
officers Wyndell Noromor, Edwin Ebrado, Phil Rey Mendigo, Julius Suarez, Rowell
Reyes and Julie Escalo were killed in action during a 20-minute gun battle with
soldiers.
Wounded were rookie
police officers Elmer Pan, Cris Angelo Pialago, Romulo Cordero, Joenel Gonzaga,
Rey Barbosa, Roden Goden, Jaime Galoy, Rommel Bagunas, and Jonmark Adones.
The PNP presented a
posthumous award and financial assistance to the family of each slain policemen
while the wounded were pinned with recognition medal and given financial
assistance by Albayalde.
“This was a tragic
moment but this will not affect our relationship with the military,” he
said. (RTA/PNA)
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