• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A police officer tasked to serve an arrest warrant, who was killed by suspected New People’s Army rebels on December 7 in Barangay Laga-an, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, has received a posthumous award for his heroism.
PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay, regional director of the Police Regional Office- Negros Island Region, presented the Medalya ng Kadakilaan (PNP Distinguished Conduct Medal) to the family of the late PSMS Rommel Aguilar, on Dec. 10 in Toboso.
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, in a statement, said.
The National Police Commission also joined the PRO-NIR and Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) in condemning the brutal attack against PSMS Aguilar and a civilian identified as a certain Mando Ugdiman.
This senseless act of violence perpetrated by the members of the New People’s Army (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, a statement from Napolcom said.
PCapt. Judesses Catalogo, NOCPPO spokesperson, said that they are coordinating with the Philippine Army to identify the suspects in the separate killings.
Catalogo raised the possibility that the perpetrators behind the death of Ugdiman and PSMS Aguilar may have been the same.
He added that they are still trying to establish if Aguilar, who and several others were tasked to serve an arrest warrant, died in an encounter or was a victim of summary execution.*
