2 cops wounded in encounter with La Union ambush suspects

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – Two intelligence officers of the La Union police were wounded while pursuing the suspects in the ambush of Balaoan Mayor Aleli Concepcion and her father, Vice Mayor Alfred Concepcion earlier this week.

The wounded police officers were identified only as SPO3 Laya and SPO1 Cahigas, who were brought to Lorma Medical Center here for treatment.

“The police officers were on roving patrol when they received information barely an hour after the ambush. They then proceeded to the area where residents spotted the car allegedly used by the suspects. While they were about to approach the vehicle used by the suspects, a gray Toyota RAV 4, the occupants immediately fired at them. They fired back at the suspects but they were outnumbered,” a witness said.

Reports showed the encounter happened in remote Barangay Nagsaag in San Juan, La Union where the four to five suspects were transferring their firearms to another vehicle.

According to a source, the suspects are believed to be members of the New People's Army operating in the Ilocos region and Cordillera.

On November 14, Vice Mayor Concepcion and his security aid, Michael Ulep were killed.

The attack wounded the elder Concepcion’s daughter, the incumbent town mayor and several other individuals.

The Concepcions were in separate vehicles and were on their way to the town hall when they were waylaid in Barangay Cabua-an at around 8 a.m.