• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A police officer killed by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) remnants in Barangay Laga-an, Calatrava, Negros Occidental on Dec. 7 received a posthumous award from the Philippine National Police (PNP) for his heroism.
PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, regional director of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), presented the Medalya ng Kadakilaan (PNP Distinguished Conduct Medal) to the family of the late PSMS Rommel Aguilar in Toboso on Dec. 10.
“My snappiest salute to our police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. His bravery lives on in all of us,” Ibay said in a statement.
The team of Aguilar were serving an arrest warrant in the neighboring village when the NPA remnants engaged them.
He was then reported missing and hours later, his body was found.
The National Police Commission joined the PRO-NIR and the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) in condemning the brutal attack against the police officer and a civilian identified as Mando Ugdiman.
“This senseless act of violence perpetrated by the members of the NPA is a direct assault on peace, stability, and the rule of law. Attacking police officers performing their duty, and endangering innocent civilians, has no place in a society striving for genuine order and development,” Napolcom said in a statement.
PCapt. Judesses Catalogo, NOCPPO spokesperson, said they are coordinating with the Philippine Army to identify the perpetrators in the separate killings.
Catalogo raised the possibility that those behind the death of Ugdiman and Aguilar are from the same group. | GB
