Dud bullets given to 6th RMG troops
BACOLOD CITY -- If Iloilo City has defective firearms, Bacolod City has defective bullets.
And it was the defective or dud bullets that made members of the 6th Regional Mobile Group (RMG) defenseless when they were ambushed by alleged members of Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) last week in Hacienda San Vicente, Brgy. Estado, Victorias City.
No less than Supt. Remus Zacharias Canieso, commander of 6th RMG, admitted that he was also issued dud ammunition.
"I was one of the recipients of the dud ammunition, which I used during the more than one hour gun battle with rebel ambushers," he said.
He said, it (defective bullets) should already be junked as they pose grave danger to the lives of troopers who may be issued such bullets.
Negros Occidental Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Manuel Felix has ordered an investigation on the alleged defective bullets.
Inspector Robert Dejucos, chief of the NOPPO Investigation Branch, leads the investigation.
The investigation will cover the firearms and bullets of ambushed 6th RMG troopers which were recovered by Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) like the 24 empty shells of M-16 and M-14 rifles.
The said ammunitions were examined for ballistic tests at PNP Crime Laboratory.
"Victorias City Police Station may coordinate with the 6th RMG headed by Supt. Remus Zacharias Canieso, to recover the defective ammunition, which had been retrieved by troopers at the encounter site," Dejucos added.
Police Officer 1 Jane Tacadao was killed on the spot during the ambush while three of the four injured female RMG troopers were identified as Police Officers 1 Marife Cantomayor, Annie Lou Patricio and Jocelyn Tibar are expected to be discharged from the Our Lady of Mercy Hospital.
PO1 Melanie Tupas on the other hand is still under observation.
No less than PNP Regional Director PCSupt. Isagani Cuevas pinned the 'Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting' for troopers' gallantry when they were ambushed by about 10 to 30 rebels.