Landmine kills rookie cop, injures 5 others in Northern Samar

From the Sun Star-Tacloban (Apr 4, 2022): Landmine kills rookie cop, injures 5 others in Northern Samar (By RONALD O. REYES)

Photo from Northern Samar Police Provincial Office

A YOUNG police officer was killed, while five other troops were injured after suspected communist rebels detonated an anti-personnel landmine in Barangay San Miguel, Las Navas, Northern Samar, Monday morning, April 4, 2022.

The slain policeman was identified as Patrolman Harvie Cortez Lovino, 30, married, and assigned at 1st Northern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company (NSPMC) based in Catarman town.

The Police Regional Office (PRO)-Eastern Visayas reported that the wounded troops were identified as Patrolman Rico Borja, Patrolman Leandro Luciano Bulosan, Army Corporal Arvin Papong, Private First Class Whilydel Jic Rodona, and Private First Class Wilmer Del Monte.

The troops belong to the 20th Infantry Battalion based in Las Navas.

Brigadier General Bernard Banac, director of PRO-Eastern Visayas, condemned the planting of the anti-personnel mine by the rebel groups.

“It is a display of disrespect for the human rights...and their destruction of the peace in Northern Samar,” said Banac.

According to the police official, such attacks by rebel groups "will never shake the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines."

“We will intensify our operations against insurgency and crime throughout the Eastern Visayas region,” Banac added.

Authorities said the attack happed around 7 a.m. while the troops were headed to Barangay Osang in Catubig, Northern Samar, for a community support program.

The injured were rushed to a hospital for medical treatment, while the fatality was brought to the Rural Health Unit of Las Navas for post mortem examination.

Eastern Visayas, particularly Samar Island, has remained a stronghold of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines that has been listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia, and the Philippines.

 
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1925547/tacloban/local-news/landmine-kills-rookie-cop-injures-5-others-in-northern-samar