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MANILA— The head of the Philippine National Police, General Debold Sinas, ordered a manhunt against suspected illegal loggers who shot at police officers in Cagayan province, leaving one officer wounded.
The newly installed chief of police ordered persecution operations against the suspects involved in the shooting that wounded Police Lieutenant Randy Baccay, deputy chief of police at the Pañablanca police station. One of them was captured on site while the rest are at large.
Police Brig. General Crizaldo Nieves, director of the Cagayan Valley regional police, reported that Baccay and his team were responding to reports that illegally cut wood was stored in Sitio Dalayat, Minanga, Lagum, Peñablanca city on Thursday night .
As the team inspected and documented the records, armed suspects opened fire and beat Baccay while the rest of the team responded.
Arrested at the scene was Ernest Sibbaluca, 45, from Barangay Minanga, Peñablanca, Cagayan. He was identified as one of the shooters.
Sibbaluca, who was previously arrested for illegal logging,
He was transferred to the Peñablanca Police Station. He faces charges of direct assault and attempted murder.
Meanwhile, Sinas ordered Nieves to extend a financial aid of P50,000 for Baccay’s medical expenses.
The government has stepped up operations against illegal logging in Cagayan province in the wake of historic floods just two weeks ago.
Local officials cited illegal logging as a factor in the flooding, along with heavy sedimentation from the Cagayan river, runoff from nearby provinces and the discharge of water from the Magat dam.
RELATED VIDEO:
Crizaldo Nieves, Randy Baccay, Ernest Sibbaluca, Illegal logging, Cagayan province
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