Duterte gives medals, support to cops in Guihulngan ambush

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jul 28): Duterte gives medals, support to cops in Guihulngan ambush

President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday conferred posthumous awards to six killed-in-police-operation officers, during his visit to their wake at the City Hall of Guihulngan in Negros Oriental.

Guihulngan police chief, Supt. Arnel Arpon, Senior Police Officer 2 Necasio Pasculado Tabilon, PO3 Teovic Gador Agosto, PO2 Alvin Paul Alquizola Bulandres, PO2 Alfredo Lastimoso Dunque, and SPO1 Jesael Ancheta, were responding to a call for police assistance, but were killed after being ambushed by an armed group of suspected rebels at Magsaysay Village in Guihulngan City on July 21.

Duterte, who arrived at the Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport at about 5:30 p.m. yesterday, immediately flew to Guihulngan via the presidential chopper, to condole with the bereaved families and loved ones of the six policemen.

He spent several minutes with the families of each of the fallen cops, including those of Arpon and Ancheta, whose remains lie in state at their residences in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, and Jimalalud, Negros Oriental, respectively.

Assisted by Philippine National Police chief, Director General Ronald Dela Rosa, Duterte placed a medal on each of the coffins of the fallen police officer, and in front of the framed pictures of Arpon and Ancheta, and saluted them for their heroism.

Duterte also extended financial and scholarship assistance to the grieving families.

He said the government will provide for the education of the children of the slain policemen and jobs for the widows, including P250,000 to start a business, another P250,000 personally from him, and an additional P20,000 assistance.

Duterte said the families will be enrolled in the 4Ps conditional cash transfer program and will receive P1,500 monthly plus rice.

They will also receive benefits froim the Philippine National Police.

From Guihulngan, Duterte travelled back to Dumaguete and arrived past 8 p.m. to meet with the three policemen who survived the ambush and are recovering at the Silliman University Medical Center Foundation Inc.

Duterte and his party were cheered by the crowd that patiently waited for him.

He gave P100,000 in cash assistance each to PO3 Jordan Balderas, PO2 Jorie Regino Maribao, and SPO4 Jerome Casipong Delara, as well as new Armscor handgun and smartphone. He also spent several minutes talking with the wounded and their families.

The three policemen were also conferred the PNP Wounded Personnel Medal, pursuant to provisions of Sections 2 and 7 of Napolcom Memorandum Circular 93-018, and by command of Chief Supt. Edmund Gonzales, the director of the Police Regional Office 18.

Duterte then joined a closed door command conference at the Sibulan airport before leaving for Manila.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2017/July/28/negor1.htm