Nurse killed after suspected NPA rebels ambush vehicle in Palawan

A government nurse was killed after suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels ambushed a vehicle carrying health workers in Roxas town, Palawan Saturday afternoon.

Rescue 165 nurse Algerome Bernardo, 51, was killed in the ambush allegedly carried out by NPA members in Barangay Dumarao, Roxas.

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Richristoper Magbanua, Rescue 165 program manager, told Palawan News that the vehicle was on its way to Dumaran when it was fired upon by the armed men.

“Dumaran Rescue 165 ito mga around 3 p.m. [nangyari] ang sakay ng ambulance yong driver, yong nurse at dalawang responders. Galing sila ng Puerto [Princesa City,] papunta na sila sa Dumaran pabalik ng duty,” Magbanua said.

(Dumaran Rescue 165 passed through at around 3 pm. Inside the ambulance was the driver, the nurse, and two responders. They came from Puerto Princesa City and on their way back to duty in Dumaran.)

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The driver of the vehicle identified as Alex dela Peña, 51, was injured in the ambush. He was rushed to a hospital for treatment, according to a spot report of the Roxas municipal police.

Meanwhile, the two responders Christopher Tamolin, 39, and Armando Carbajosa, 49, did not sustain life-threatening injuries.

According to healthcare workers, they were on their way back to Dumaran from Puerto Princesa City aboard a white Toyota Hi-Lux when the group of armed rebels ambushed them.

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Also read: Duterte to give NPA COVID-19 vaccine if they ‘stop fighting’

Nurse killed after suspected NPA rebels ambush vehicle in Palawan

Governor Jose Alvarez, chair of the Palawan Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF ELCAC), condemned the attack.

“Nakakalungkot isipin na sa gitna ng pandemya ay nagagawa pa ng mga teroristang NPA ang paghahasik ng kaharasan. Wala nang pinipili ang mga teroristang ito, pati ambulansiya at mga sibilyan ay pinapatulan na,” Gov. Alvarez said.

“Ipinapakita lamang nito ang kanilang totoong kulay at layunin na sirain ang katahimikan ng Palawan. Pati mga sibilyan ay pinapatos na nila na walang ibang layunin kundi ang magbigay takot at pangamba. Malinaw na sila ay walang respeto sa Karapatang Pangtao at Pangdaigdigang Batas sa Karapatang Pangtao (International Humanitarian Law) taliwas sa kanilang mga sinasabi at ipinapangako sa tao,” he added.

The Philippine Nurses Association-Palawan Chapter, in a public post, shared Saturday on Facebook, meanwhile, called for justice on the death of their colleague.

“Our deepest sympathy and condolence to the bereaved family of our fallen comrade in Dumaran. #JusticeForNurseAl,” the post said.

The NPA has not released any statement regarding the ambush.