THREE persons, including a police officer, were killed while two other policemen and two civilians were wounded after they were ambushed by suspected members of a criminal syndicate in Guimba town in Nueva Ecija on Tuesday evening, May 1.
Police Regional Office 3 director Chief Superintendent Amador Corpus identified the fatalities as Alfonso and Ronaldo Sambrano, Erick Fardo and Police Officer (PO) 2 Ruben Badongen.
Wounded were PO3 Christopher Delfin, PO1 Mico Serrano, Raymundo Sambrano and Orlando Balmater.
Corpus said the civilian victims were relatives of Delfin, who hitched a ride after their vehicle conked out in Cuyapo town.
Based on initial investigation, Corpus said the victims were onboard a silver Toyota Hi-ace Grandia van while conducting surveillance of the Jay-Ar del Rosario criminal group when at least 10 heavily armed suspects onboard motorcycle, black Honda CRV and white SUV without license plate numbers overtook and fired upon them.
The ambush took place around 7:00 p.m. Tuesday in Barangay Tampac 1, Guimba, Nueva Ecija.
"On the account of PO3 Christopher Delfin, they were conducting surveillance and the group of the suspects tailed and overtook them, thereafter, simultaneously fired upon their vehicle then exchange of gun fire ensued. Further, PO3 Delfin also averred that he was able to identify Jay-r Del Rosario as one of the gunman onboard the motorcycle," said Corpus.
The Del Rosario crime group is allegedly involved in robbery hold-up and gun-for-hire incidents in Nueva Ecija and nearby provinces.
Recovered from the scene were several pieces of empty shells for caliber .45, caliber .40, caliber 5.56 and caliber 7.62.
Corpus said a "flash alarm" was relayed to nearby police stations for the conduct of dragnet operation against the group. (VoxPop Philippines)