Cop killed in Abra grenade blast, a Mamasapano survivor —SAF director

Police Officer 3 Carlos Baccali Bocaig might have survived a firefight while serving the warrant of arrest to terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano in 2015.

Exactly three years later, however, he still ended up dead when he was killed in a grenade explosion in La Paz, Abra early Thursday, that also injured Abra Rep. Joseph Sto. Niño Bernos and his wife, La Paz Mayor Menchie Bernos.

Bocaig was killed when an unidentified man threw a fragmentation hand grenade near the stage while the residents were watching a fireworks display during the town fiesta of La Paz around 1:30 a.m., January 25.

Apart from Bocaig, also killed in the incident was PO2 Frenzel Buneng Kitoyan. Both of them were members of the Abra Provincial Police Office.

Special Action Force chief Director Noli Taliño confirmed that Bocaig was part of Oplan Exodus and among the survivors. Marwan was killed in the operation.

“Kasama siya sa survivor sa Mamasapano,” he said in a text message to GMA News Online Thursday.

“Kasama siya dati sa SAF na nabigyan ng full recognition about Mamasapano,” he added.

Taliño said Bocaig was a member of the assault team, 84th SAC Seaborne,, tasked to arrest Marwan.

Nine of their members were killed in the operation.

Because of Bocaig’s contribution to the operation, he was promoted to PO3.

A report from Cordillera police showed that other injured inviduals were Acting Chief of Police of La Paz Municipal Police Station Senior Inspector Apdilon Galong; PO2 Richard Basiag, assigned at Danglas Municipal Police Station; Barangay Captain  Darroll Azdi Gonzales, 32.

Also wounded were Marc Rowjan Beronilla, resident of Poblacion, La Paz, Abra; Diosdado Mina, cameraman, resident of South Poblacion, Bucay, Abra;  Jayson Bernabe Zales, resident of North Poblacion, Bucay, Abra; Ryan Jun Camacho Marasan, resident of Zone 3, Bangued, Abra; Benedicto Doque Jr., resident of Barangay Talogtog, Dolores, Abra; Eva Marie Panagtay Sales, resident of Poblacion, Peñarrubia, Abra; Juanito Zales, resident of Barangay Siblong, Bucay, Abra; Aira Cortez, native of Dolores, Abra; and Leyze Rose Pe Benito, teacher at Queen of Peace High School, La Paz, Abra and resident of San Jose Norte, Manabo, Abra.

Investigators recovered two levers of alleged MK2 fragmentation hand grenades in the area.

Abra police has alerted all adjacent municipalities to conduct checkpoint for the possible arrest of the perpetrator while a Regional Special Investigation Task Group (RSITG) headed by Deputy Regional Director for Operations Chief Supt. Sterling Raymund Blanco has been activated to conduct a focused & exhaustive investigation.

Police said the perpetrators have yet to be identified and the motive was still being determined.

Cordillera Regional Director Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza appealed to the public to be extra vigilant and provide information in support to the various law enforcement agencies. — MDM, GMA News