Duterte offers P1.3M reward for capture of killers of Negros cops

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday offered up to P1.3 million for the capture of those behind the killing of four police officers in Negros Oriental last week.

The Palace earlier said a P1-million reward will be given for the capture, whether dead or alive, of the masterminds, perpetrators, and actual shooters of the four intelligence officers.

Duterte said he would add P300,000 if the mastermind was captured dead.

"Mas gusto kong patay sila. Kung patay sila, magdagdag pa ako ng 300. So it’s one million three hundred. Just bring me the head of that idiot leader there," Duterte told reporters after his fourth State of the Nation Address.

"One million. No questions asked. All he has to do is give a little information or magpatay sila ng kung sino-sino. Basta one million ako. Kasi masama ang loob ko kung bakit ganun," he added.

Four police officers were ambushed and allegedly tortured by suspected New People's Army rebels before they were killed in Sitio Yamot, Barangay Mabato in Ayungon town, Negros Oriental last Thursday.

The police officers were on board two motorcycles on the way to the home of a certain "Anadon" when they were ambushed by suspected rebels.

The cops were members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion-7, assigned to a detachment in Sitio Nabangka, Barangay Mabato in Ayungon town.

Duterte visited the wake for the four police officers on Saturday in Sibulan town and condoled with their relatives.

He also conferred on the police officers posthumously the Order of Lapu-Lapu, Rank of Kalasag.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who supervises the Philippine National Police, said the incident was a direct assault not just to the police but to the advocacy of the national government to end the long-term communist insurgency in the country. —NB, GMA News