The Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives on Wednesday sought a congressional probe into the alleged ‘‘misencounter’’ between army troopers and police officers in Sta. Rita, Samar last June 25, 2018.
In House Resolution 1983, party-list Reps. Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna, Antonio Tinio and France Castro of ACT Teachers, Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis and Sara Elago of Kabataan, asked the House committees on national defense, and security and public order and safety to look into the incident.
At least six young police officers were killed and nine others injured in what security sources initially described as an “ambush incident” by army troops on Monday in the backwoods of Sta. Rita in Samar.
Reports said the incident happened mid-morning between members of the Philippine National Police 805th Mobile Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion and the 87th Infantry Batallion, Philippine Army based in Calbiga, Samar.
The group said the families of those killed and injured deserve justice.
“The families of the victims expressed their fears of a cover-up or a whitewash as President Rodrigo Duterte said that ‘‘nobody wanted it to happen’ and this was caused by ‘Murphy’s Law.’’ They fear that the case will be whitewashed like what happened with the Mamasapano case,” the group said.
Killed in action were PO1 Phil J Rey Mendigo, PO1 Edwin P. Ebrado, PO1 Wyndell S. Noromor, PO1 Rowel Reyes, PO1 Julie Y. Escalo, and PO1 Julius R. Suarez.
Wounded in action on the PNP side were PO1 Romulo Cordero, PO1 Elmer F. Pan, PO1 Chris Angelo A. Pialago, PO1 Jaime G. Galoy, PO1 Rey C. Barbosa, PO1 Jonel C. Gonzaga, PO1 Rommel Bagunas, PO1 Janmark K. Adones, and PO1 Roden T. Goden.
