The front part of the Special Action Force’s (SAF) vehicle was hit by bullets on Monday morning after they were ambushed by suspected rebels.
The incident happened around 7 am on the national highway of Barangay Danlog.
The SAF –- based in Juban, Sorsogon -– would have responded to the report that there were armed men in Pilar.
“May sightings dito sa Barangay Danlog na mga armed personalities that is why they are present here. However when they are about to approach ‘yung lugar pinaputukan sila so luckily wala naman grabe nasugatan sa ating mga tropa,” ani Police Col. Arturo Brual, provincial director of the Sorsogon police.
(There are sightings here in Barangay Danlog of armed personalities that is why they are present here. However, when they are about to approach the place, they were shot. But luckily, no one was seriously injured in our troops.)
Improvised explosive devices were also planted in the area.
The ambush was just in front of a long line of cargo trucks so some drivers and firefighters were also affected, but no one was injured.
“Nang may sumabog du’n, tumakbo na kami du’n, pinabayaan namin itong trak,” said driver John John Cortez.
(When something exploded, we ran there, leaving the truck behind.)
SAF members ambushed in Sorsogon
Emelita Aycocho, on the other hand, was very worried because a bullet hit her 35-year-old daughter’s foot.
“Basta po may sumabog na malakas. Kami nakaupo du’n ng anak ko, du’n sa kusina, du’n sa may pintuan,” she said,
(Just something exploded loudly. My daughter and I were sitting there, in the kitchen, at the door.)
The cargo truck drivers gathered at Aycocho’s house to hide.
The exchange of fire lasted 5 minutes.
Two civilians were shot, and 3 SAF members were injured, but all were safe.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The Special Action Force (SAF) is the elite unit of the Philippine National Police founded by Fidel V. Ramos. SAF Commandos have received training from the Hostage Rescue Team (HRT), Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG), RAID and Yamam.
The Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU) of the PNP-SAF is responsible for police counter-terrorism (CT) operations nationwide.
personalitiesthe complex of all the attributes–behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental–that characterize a unique individualMore (Definitions, Synonyms, Translation)