Pambujan village chief killed by CTs

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
February 7, 2012

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte  –  PNP PRO8 supports the government’s ruling for an “all-out war” against the CTs (Communist Terrorists) and all other lawless elements responsible for their criminal acts and to serve justice to their victims.

In this connection, on February 5, 2012 at about 10:15AM, a certain Rowena Sosing appeared at Pambujan Police Station averring that her father Norberto Sosing, Punong Barangay of Busak, Pambujan, Northern Samar was shot to death by unidentified perpetrators while on his way to attend the Barangay Council Meeting in his barangay.

Upon receipt of the information, PO3 Leo Mejos, Duty Investigator together with other Pambujan PNP Personnel have proceeded to the area on board two (2) motorcycles to verify and investigate the veracity of the report. Subsequently, they coordinated and asked for augmentation. Then, a team of 8RPSB Personnel led by PI Felix Beril, Jr. on board the PNP patrol vehicle followed immediately to Barangay Busak.

Soon, the group of PO3 Mejos arrived ahead and conducted investigation of the incident. Minutes later, Pambujan Mayor Rogelio Tan and Vice-Mayor Tirso Tan III with some civilian escorts also arrived at the area for verification.

Reportedly, on same date at 11:20AM, while the augmentation team was approximately 600 meters from the barangay proper, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded from behind the PNP patrol vehicle that prompted the augmentation team to immediately alight from the vehicle to take defensive positions. Then, another IED exploded followed by sporadic gunfire from undetermined number of CTs believed to be responsible in the killing of Sosing.

The firefight lasted for about 15 minutes. Upon sensing the arrival of reinforcing troops, the CTs then withdrew to the forested area of Barangay Busak heading towards Barangay Canjumandal. RPSB8 Team then secured the ambush area while waiting for the reinforcement troop.

No casualty was reported from the PNP side but undetermined on the enemy side.

At about 2:30PM, same date, reinforcing troops from the 63rd IB arrived and thereafter, composite troops of the AFP and PNP pursued the CTs in their route of withdrawal.

Eventually, the dead body of Punong Barangay Norberto Sosing was recovered from the scene and was brought to Pambujan Municipal health Office for the conduct of Post Mortem Examination.

Both the PNP and AFP are coordinating closely and are committed to apply the full force of the law against the CTs and lawless elements so that justice will be served.