5 COPS KILLED, 3 HURT IN MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR AMBUSH

FIVE policemen on Saturday night were killed while three others were injured in an ambush by gunmen in Maguindanao del Sur

The victim cops were members of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Maguindanao Provincial Police Office.

They were on their way to their detachment in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao after a patrol operation when the incident happened.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. strongly condemned what he descrbed as “senseless and cowardly ambush.”

“This heinous act is a direct assault on law enforcement and a threat to peace and order. The Philippine National Police has launched intensified hot pursuit operations, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to ensure the swift identification and arrest of the perpetrators,” Nartatez said.

The top cop assured the public that all necessary measures are being undertaken to bring those responsible to justice.

“The Philippine National Police extends its deepest condolences to the families of our fallen personnel. Their bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” the PNP chief said.

“We will not waver. This attack will not go unanswered. Justice will be swift, certain, and uncompromising,”  he added.

Joint police and military forces were immediately sent to the area to secure the site and retrieve the bodies of the victims and bring the wounded to the hospital.

Nartatez directed Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region director Brig. Gen. Jaysen C. de Guzman to mobilize teams that will conduct aggressive follow-up operations and build a solid case against the perpetrators.

“If there is a need to deploy more policemen, especially from our elite units, so be it. Our focus is to get all the perpetrators in the interest of justice and peace and order,”  the top cop said.