SPPO director vows justice for slain cops

CALBAYOG CITY - Police/Colonel Peter Uy Limbauan, director of the Samar Police Provincial Office (SPPO), declared in a public statement vowing to attain justice for the three police officers who were killed by crime suspects during a gunfight at Sta. Margarita, Samar on Wednesday when the authorities tried to serve warrant of arrests against three members of the criminal group.

The slain policemen were P/Master Sergeant Paul Terence Paclibar, P/Staff Sgt. Christian Tallo, and P/Corporal Eleazar Estrelles. “The sacrifice made by them will always fuel and burn our passion to seek for justice,” Limbauan said.

The Samar provincial police director said he wanted justice for the killed policemen “who were willing to offer their lives in pursuit of justice for the victims” earlier killed by the suspects, who were the subjects of a warrant of arrest issued by the court.

The suspects supposed to be served with the warrants were identified as Edito Ampoan, Jojo Altarejos and Rogelio Macurol all residents of Barangay Mahayag in Sta. Margarita, Samar. They are members of the Ampoan criminal gang together with several other armed men holed up at Mahayag, which is learned to be a nest of criminals.

Limbauan said the SPPO also “honor the lives of our wounded comrades who fought” in the line of duty. The four who were wounded in the firefight were P/Corporals Ranel Pedamato and Mark Jason Sixta, and P/Patrolmen Mark Redoblado and Ham Kritner Cabalis. They were airlifted to a hospital in Calbayog City.

While extending condolences to the bereaved families of the fallen policemen, Limbauan assured the public that justice will be served. “Our relentless effort to go after lawless elements may take down lives of good police officers, but remember, there will be more police officers of Samar PPO who will stand up to fight for justice and uphold law and order in this province,” Limbauan declared.

The serving of the arrest warrant that Wednesday morning by two units of the police mobile forces were met with a volley of gunfire from the resisting criminal group, obviously protecting the three suspects, resulting in a firefight that the police report said lasted until about noontime.

Reinforcements from other police units and one arriving in a helicopter for aerial support came to naught however because, as the gunfight subsided, the suspects were able to escape but left three policemen dead in the crime scene.

Various police units and municipal police stations in the province were immediately put on alert status and ordered to conduct simultaneous checkpoints at areas that may be possible escape routes of the fleeing suspects.

The 1st SPMFC Teams, led by P/Lt. Col. Seth Mark Alob were also deployed for reinforcement together with the SOCO and investigation teams, while the 804th and 805th MCs of RMFB8 were directed to establish blocking points.

The latest report from the SPPO stated that seven cohorts of the suspects who were also members of the criminal group were arrested already and in custody of the police although their identities have yet to be confirmed. Recovered from the criminal group’s area were one M-16 rifle and one .45-caliber pistol, plus ammunitions. -