Gov’t vows aid for casualties of Samar ‘misencounter’

All victims, wounded in an encounter with government forces will be taken care of by the government,” Roque said in a press briefing in Davao City.ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — The Philippine government will provide necessary assistance to the six slain policemen and nine others who were wounded during a chance encounter between government troops and policemen in Villareal, Samar on Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that although he has little information on what took place during the misencounter, he assured that the government will be ready to help those who need assistance.

“Lahat naman po ng naging biktima o nasasaktan sa labanan na taong gobyerno, iyan po ay pinangangalagaan ng ating gobyerno ‘no (All victims, wounded in an encounter with government forces will be taken care of by the government),” Roque said in a press briefing in Davao City.

Meanwhile, Palace said it is still waiting for the results of the joint investigation being conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on the incident.

“Wala pa po akong impormasyon sa misencounter na iyan ‘no. So hayaan po muna natin umusad ang imbestigasyon (I still don’t have information about that misencounter. So let’s wait for the investigation to proceed),” Roque said.

Roque pointed out that President Rodrigo R. Duterte himself, in many occasions, vowed to protect and provide for soldiers and policemen as long as they did their job in the line of duty.

“Paulit-ulit po sa mga public pronouncements ni President ang kaniyang concern sa buhay at sa well-being noong ating mga men in uniform ‘no (The President has repeatedly made public pronouncements about his concern for the life and well-being of our men in uniform),” Roque said.

“Iyan naman po talaga ay paninindigan ni Presidente na mahalaga ang papel na ginagampanan ng ating kapulisan at ng ating Hukbong Sandatahan (That is what the President has always stood for, the important role being played by our policemen and soldiers),” he added.

Despite the incident, Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva said that it will not dampen the cooperation between the two law enforcement units in carrying out their mandate.

“Despite this challenge, we will continue to perform our mandate alongside the Philippine National Police (PNP) to serve the interest and protect the well-being of the people,” Villanueva said in a text message to reporters.

On Monday morning, elements of the 1st Platoon, 805th Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 8 of the PNP and troops of the 87th Infantry Battalion had a misencounter as they were patrolling Sitio Lonoy, Barangay San Roque, Sta. Rita, Samar.

Army’s 8th Infantry Division spokesperson, Capt. Francis Agno, said soldiers of the 87th Infantry Battalion based in Calbiga, Samar “incidentally engaged” in a clash with a team from the 805th Company of the Philippine National Police Regional Mobile Force Battalion.