Six cops hurt in Masbate blast by suspected Reds

Six policemen were hurt after suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) detonated a roadside bomb in a town in Masbate on Friday morning, a local military official reported. Suspected communist rebels blasted an improvised landmine under a police vehicle in Barangay Balatukan in Mobo town at 10 a.m. Friday, Major Harold Cabunoc of the 9th Infantry Division said in a text message. The military identified the casualties as SPO1 Angel Palmones, PO1 Ronald Imperial, PO1 Edwin Enciso, PO1 Jose Carmona, PO1 Karlo Orlain and PO1 Leon Tumbaga III. A firefight ensued between the police and the rebels after the explosion, but supposedly ceased a few minutes later because government forces had to rush the casualties to the nearest hospital, Cabunoc said. However, the suspected NPA members also reportedly ambushed the military forces who were trying to evacuate the six hurt cops, causing another 10-minute skirmish between the Army and the communist rebels, he added. No one was hurt in the second firefight, Cabunoc said. Pursuit operations have already been launched to track down the suspected rebels involved in the blast, according to the local military official. - TJD, GMANews.TV