Peñablanca, Cagayan police official injured in ambush

The deputy chief of police of Peñablanca, Cagayan on Thursday sustained wounds after unidentified assailants fired at his patrol car while conducting an operation against illegal loggers.

Citing initial information, the Cagayan Provincial Information Office  said Police Lieutenant Randy Baccay was wounded after gunmen fired at him and several policemen past 7 p.m. at Barangay Minanga, Lagtum Area.

Baccay was immediately brought to the hospital. No other person was injured.

Meanwhile, joint-operatives from the Philippine National Police-Peñablanca and the Provincial Mobile Force Company are conducting manhunt operations.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government previously said it has ordered the Philippine National Police and local government units to intensify efforts against illegal mining and logging after the massive flooding in the province following the series of typhoons.

The Cagayan police said the operation held earlier was part of the city’s efforts to stop the widespread illegal logging in the province.  Cagayan Valley was one of the areas heavily-hit by the typhoons.

“Matatandaang, panay-panay ang anti-illegal logging operations ng Cagayan Police Provincial Office sa nasabing bayan kung saan libo-libong board feet ng mga kontrabandong kahoy ang nasakote ng pulisya sa nabanggit na lugar nitong mga nakaraang buwan,” the provincial police office said.

It also said that this was not the first incident linked to illegal mining in the area.

“Magugunitang hindi ito ang unang insidente ng karahasan may kaugnayan sa illegal logging sa nasabing bayan kung saan tatlong forest rangers ng DENR ang kinatay ilang taon na ang nakakalipas,” it said.—Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News