3 cops killed, 4 hurt in Samar clash with armed men

Three policemen were killed in Sta. Margarita, Samar, on Tuesday morning when the serving of arrest warrants led to an encounter with armed men.

According to the police, members of the Samar Provincial Mobile Force and Regional Mobile Force went to Barangay Mahayag to serve arrest warrants to members of Ampoan Criminal Gang.

Aside from the three fatalities, four policemen were also wounded in the encounter. 

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo identified the subjects of the arrest warrants as Jojo Altarejos, Edito Ampoan, and one  Macurol. The three were able to elude the policemen, she said.

"Nung nandoon na po iyong tropa [ng mga pulis] ay naputukan na po sila," Fajardo said, adding seven suspects were arrested in the operation.

The group, according to the police, is involved in gun-for-hire activities and responsible for the killing of  several barangay officials and businessmen in the area.

"Hindi lang ito sa Santa Margarita nago-operate, even extending to Calbayog City, Gandara and the whole province of Samar. Ganon ka-notorious ito kaya malaking puwersa 'yung pumunta sa lugar," Fajardo said of the group.

The PNP official also said the group may be receiving support from New People's Army (NPA) rebels.

Fajardo said hot pursuit operations are ongoing against the members of the group, who are believed to be hiding in adjacent villages.

"Possibly ay nakawala na sila dun sa lugar so tsine-check po natin ngayon 'yung nearby barangays at nagtatag ng checkpoints and border control," she said.

Fajardo said policemen are receiving help from the military in pursuing the suspects. She said they are also verifying reports that some of the suspects were wounded in the gun battle.

Despite the violence, Fajardo said the regional police director did not recommend raising the alert level in the area.

PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr., meanwhile, is set to visit the families of the fatalities as well as the wounded policemen on Thursday. —KBK, GMA Integrated News