DILG chief bestows medal on cop slain in ambush

CABATUAN, Iloilo—Your son is a hero, Interior Undersecretary Eduardo Año told the mother of a policeman killed in the Nov. 24 ambush by communist rebels in Maasin town.

Año, who visited the wake of PO1 Joeffel Odon here on Tuesday, handed the Medalya ng Kadakilaan (heroism medal) of the Philippine National Police to the policeman’s mother, Evelyn.

Año told Evelyn he came to the wake to extend President Rodrigo Duterte’s condolences to the family.

Odon, 31, was killed in an ambush by New People’s Army rebels against a team of the police’s Regional Public Safety Battalion in Barangay Bolo in Maasin, 31 kilometers northeast of here. Ten other policemen were wounded.

Odon died from a head wound after rebels detonated two improvised explosive devices before firing at the policemen. The police were on their way home after conducting an operation.

Año, who also met with the wounded policemen, handed over to Evelyn a personal cash donation from Mr. Duterte and a P250,000 check that was part of a P500,000 assistance from the Office of the President and P180,688 from the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Inc.

He gave Evelyn a mobile phone which, he said, she could use to call the President for any assistance. —Nestor P. Burgos Jr.