Five cops wounded in Catanduanes ambush

At least five policemen were wounded in an ambush staged by communist New People's Army rebels in Catanduanes province before dawn Saturday. The incident occurred in Mabini village in Caramoran town while the policemen were in a patrol car, radio dzXL reported. An initial investigation showed the rebels opened fire on the vehicle, wounding the five, who were rushed to the Datag West Hospital. A separate report on Bombo Radyo identified the five as Inspector Rene Bea, PO1 Rene Bayunga, PO1 Edcel Grutas, PO1 Rommel Cardel and PO1 William Bagasbas. Also, the report said the ambush occurred at 2:30 a.m. when the policemen were escorting a victim of a shooting incident to the village. Pursuit operations against the rebels were ongoing as of posting time. — LBG, GMA News