Magsasanib-puwersa ang Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) at Department of National Defense (DND) sa gagawing imbestigasyon kaugnay ng sinasabing “misencounter” sa pagitan ng mga pulis-Samar at mga operatiba ng Philippine Army, na ikinasawi ng anim na pulis, nitong Lunes ng umaga.

“This is a very unfortunate event that nobody wanted to happen. Together with the DND, we will form a board of inquiry to investigate the incident in order to determine the cause of this unfortunate event and draw up measures to prevent the same from happening again,” sabi ni DILG officer-in-charge (OIC) Eduardo M. Año.

“There are existing protocols between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in field operations. We will try to determine why these were not followed and if these need review and modifications,” dagdag pa niya.

Inako naman ng militar ang responsibilidad sa nangyari, at tiniyak na magsasagawa sila ng pagsisiyasat sa insidente.

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“The (OIC) Regional Director of PRO-8 (Police Regional Office 8) Chief Supt. Mariel M. Magaway and I directed a joint AFP-PNP investigation on the circumstances surrounding this incident. (Also) this afternoon the commanders of the PNP and Army units assessed the situation and the incident to determine some gaps,” sabi ni Major Gen. Raul Farnacio.

Nang tanungin kung napagkamalan ng mga sundalo na mga rebelde ang mga pulis, sumagot si Farnacio: “Maaari, maaari.”

Umaga nitong Lunes nang sumiklab ang engkuwentro sa pagitan ng 87th Infantry Battalion at ng 805th Mobile Company ng Regional Mobile Force Battalion 8 nang sabay silang magkasa ng combat operations sa mga bayan ng Sta. Rita at Villareal.

Napatay sa Sitio Lanoy, Barangay San Roque, Sta. Rita, Samar sina PO1 Wyndell Noromor, PO1 Edwin Ebrado, PO1 Phil Rey Mendigo, PO1 Julius Suarez, PO1 Rowell Reyes, at PO1 Julie Escato.

Sugatan naman sina PO1 Elmer Pan, PO1 Cris Angelo Pialago, PO1 Romulo Cordero, PO1 Joenel Gonzaga, PO1 Rey Barbosa, PO1 Roden Goden, PO1 Jaime Galoy, PO1 Rommel Bagunas, at PO1 Jonmark Adones.