6 cops killed, 9 wounded in ‘misencounter’ with Army in Samar

SAMAR, Philippines (4th UPDATE) – Six policemen were killed and 9 others were wounded in what was believed to be a “misencounter” with the Army in Santa Rita*, Samar, on Monday morning, June 25. 

Sources from the provincial police, however, claimed that what happened at 9:27 am in Sitio Lunoy, Barangay San Roque*, was an “ambush,” perpetrated by members of the Army’s 87th Infantry Battalion.

The police said they were conducting “minor combat operations” in the area.  

Military sources, meanwhile, said the army had a “big operation,” and the police team went into the area without coordination. The team was composed of elements of the Eastern Visayas police deployed to augment the Samar Provincial Police Office. 

The initial list from the police showed that 7 cops were killed – 6 identified, and one undentified – and 6 other cops were wounded. Police later updated the figures to say 6 cops were killed and 9 more were hurt in the incident.

On Tuesday afternoon, June 26, the Philippine Nation Police finally confirmed the list of those killed and wounded that was leaked to the local media on Monday.  

Killed in action: 

• PO1 Wyndell Noromor 
• PO1 Edwin P Ebrado 
• PO1 Phil J Rey Mendigo 
• PO1 Rowel Reyes 
• PO1 Julie Escalo 
• PO1 Julius Suarez 

Wounded in action: 

• PO1 Elmer F Pan 
• PO1 Cris Angelo A Pialago 
• PO1 Romulo C Cordero 
• PO1 Joenel C Gonzaga 
• PO1 Rey C Barbosa 
• PO1 Jaime Galoy 
• PO1 Romel Bagunas 
• PO1 Jan Mark Adones 
• PO1 Roden Goden 

– Jazmin Bonifacio/Rappler.com 

(Editor’s Note: This report has been updated to reflect the exact site of the encounter, based on succeeding reports from the local police. On Monday, June 25, initial reports from the ground said the incident happened in Barangay Santa Rosa in Villareal town. Subsequent report from the police said the encounter was in Barangay San Roque, Santa Rita town, south of Villareal.)