CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 26 March) – A police officer was injured after the convoy carrying Agusan del Norte Gov. Ma. Angelica Amante-Matba was ambushed while travelling along a barangay road in the municipality of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte late Thursday morning.
Supt. Martin Gamba, spokesperson of the Caraga Regional Police Office 13, said the ambush happened around 11:20 a.m. at Kilometer 12, Sitio Mimbahandi, Barangay Camagong after the governor attended a turnover ceremony of a school building.
While on the move as they were travelling back to Butuan City, several gunfire were heard and hit the vehicle of the police escorts from the Provincial Public Safety Company that was trailing the vehicle of the governor, Gamba added.
Gamba explained that if not for the fast reaction and speed of the vehicle, several more would have been injured or killed during the incident.
“The police escorts told us that immediately after they heard the gunfire, the vehicles just rushed out of the area fast. The last vehicle with the injured police got several more bullet holes but thankfully no one was killed in the ambush,” said the regional spokesperson.
The injured policeman, PO1 Vincent Dubouzet, was immediately rushed to the MJ Santos Hospital in Butuan City with an injury at his right shoulder, Gamba said.
Police suggests that failed ambush could be the handiwork of the NPA, but Gamba said “we will wait for the final report of the investigating body which is now looking closely into the incident.”
Capt. Patrick Martinez, deputy public affairs officer of the 4th Infantry Division, said that soldiers from the Army’s 29th Infantry Battalion, along with policemen, were able to engage the attackers, but added that they are still “waiting for reports from the field on the ongoing pursuit operation.”
