Samar cop killed, detainee hurt in ambush

TACLOBAN CITY – A police officer died while a detainee that he was escorting is in critical condition when armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army waylaid them in Marabut town, Thursday afternoon.

Cpl. Earl Hembra and detainee Nestor Lumagpas Jr alias Jhay Ar were on board a patrol car when the assailants fired on their vehicle along Brgy. Logero, Marabut, Samar hitting both of them in different parts of their body. Hembra was a registered nurse before he joined the police.

Marabut municipal police chief Lt. Fernando Calabria Jr., said the victims were on their way back to the police station after a court appearance in nearby Basey town when several gunmen attacked them at about 12:56 p.m.

The two were rushed to the nearest hospital but Hembra was declared dead on arrival while Lumagpas was in critical condition.

Samar PNP provincial director Col. Glen Cinco said they are now conducting an investigation on the incident but refused to give any further comment.