Jail officers honored for bravery in ambush

Four jail officers were honored on Wednesday for their bravery during an ambush while transporting a Chinese person deprived of liberty (PDL), Hu Yang, back to his facility after a court hearing in Makati City last April 7.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology chief Ruel Rivera awarded the four personnel with the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting and Medalya ng Kagalingan for their quick and effective response.

The officers were transporting Hu Yang, a 37-year-old PDL accused of being a leader in a criminal syndicate engaged in kidnapping, car theft, extortion, and gun-running activities, when two vehicles blocked their path and opened fire on the Cavite Expressway service road.

With assistance from Parañaque police and SWAT forces, the jail officers retaliated and forced the suspects to flee; one of them crashed into a tree while six were later apprehended in the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park.

One officer sustained a gunshot wound to his left shoulder during the incident but Hu was safely returned to custody.