PNP probes defective ammunition in Negros ambush

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started investigating allegations that defective ammunition may have caused the death of a policewoman and the wounding of four others in an ambush in Victorias City in Negros Occidental early this month. Online news site Visayan Daily Star reported that the 6th Regional Mobile Group was stuck with the defective ammunition when ambushed by suspected New People's Army rebels earlier this month. The Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory has started examining the ammunition and 24 empty shells of M-16 and M-14 rifles, according to Inspector Robert Dejucos, chief of the Investigation Branch of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) operatives retrieved the ammunition and firearms from the ambushed 6th RMG troopers, and will subject these to ballistic tests. Dejucos said the Victorias City Police Station may coordinate with the 6th Regional Mobile Group, which is headed by Superintendent Remus Zacharias Canieso, to recover the defective ammunition. A female RMG trooper died, while four of her women companions, were injured, when they were ambushed along with Canieso and five of his security escorts, in Hacienda Mimi, Estado village in Victorias City last December 3. The Negros Occidental police chief, Senior Superintendent Manuel Felix said there is now an ongoing probe to determine the reason why the ammunition allegedly became defective. Canieso said the police personnel unwittingly and unknowingly used some 50 defective ammunition when they were ambushed by rebels last week. "These ammunition should already be junked as they pose grave danger to the lives of troopers who may be issued by such bullets," Canieso said. He admitted that he was among the recipients of dud ammunition, which he had used during more than one hour of gun battle against rebel ambushers. Wounded were Marife Cantomayor, Annie Lou Patricio, Jocelyn Tibar, and Melanie Tupas – all with the rank of Police Officer 1. They received Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting from the Police Regional Office 6 for gallantry in action during the ambush. On the other hand, the remains of the lone fatality Police Officer 1 Jane Tacadao, had been brought back to her parents' home in Guimaras. - GMANews.TV