DSWD, under the leadership of Regional Director Restituto Macuto, stands with the nation in honoring the wounded and the fallen police officers who engaged in a misencounter at Sta. Rita, Samar.
Based on reports received, elements of the 1st Platoon, 805th Company RMFB8 of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the command of PCI Don Achie Suspeñe were conducting a patrol from Sitio Lunoy, Brgy. San Roque towards Sitio Canunay, Brgy. Rosal, when they came under fire. The ensuing firefight lasted for twenty minutes, resulting in six KIA (killed-in-action) and nine WIA (wounded-in-action) from the PNP.
In response to this incident, DSWD Field Office VIII has closely coordinated with the Office of Civil Defense. DSWD Regional Director Restituto Macuto, together with DSWD Assistant Regional Director for Operations Marcela Lim personally visited the wounded police officers at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) to provide assistance.
Each of these police officers received P5,000 through DSWD’s Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) and 3 boxes of family food packs, containing 6 kilos of rice, 4 cans of corned beef, 4 cans of beef loaf and coffee.
Also, DSWD paid its respects to the fallen officers who are lying in state at Camp Kangleon, Palo, Leyte. The bereaved families also received P5,000 and 3 boxes of family food packs per family. DSWD is also coordinating with partner agencies such as TESDA to assess for further assistance to the bereaved families.
Overall, DSWD provided a total of 45 family food packs and P75,000 in financial assistance.
