Duterte visits wake of slain Isabela police chief

CITY OF ILAGAN — President Rodrigo Duterte has paid his last respects to an Isabela town police chief who was killed in a police operation on June 17.

Hours after treating his colleagues to a Father’s Day dinner on Sunday, Senior Insp. Michael Angelo Tubaña, Mallig town police chief, was shot dead by a 19-year-old man in a drug operation gone awry.

The suspect, identified as Warren Bulauit, 19, and a 17-year-old boy were allegedly targeted in a sting operation supervised by Tubaña and intelligence officer PO2 Edwin Gumpal.

Without warning, Bulauit drew out a handgun and shot Tubaña in the abdomen before the police’s two confidential assets could begin the transaction. Tubaña was taken to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

READ: Isabela town police chief shot dead

The suspects fled on a motorcycle, but they were caught at 10 a.m. on Monday in Tabuk City, Kalinga province. Bulauit works as a tricycle driver in Barangay Nambaran in Tabuk.

Bulauit and his young accomplice were charged with murder on Tuesday. On the same day, Tubaña was accorded a medal of valor (Medalya ng Kadakilaan) and was posthumously promoted to chief inspector.

READ: PNP confers heroism medal on slain Isabela town top cop

Members of the local media were not allowed to come near the President when he met with Tubaña’s family for 20-minutes at the Isabela police provincial office here.

Tubaña’s father Josue said President Duterte promised Ana, Tubaña’s widow, that she would be employed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“[Tubaña’s death] is too painful for us. He was too young to die at 31-years-old,” the elder Tubaña said. “The President and many other people have given us strength and have eased our pain,” he added.

Isabela Governor Faustino Dy III and Ilagan Mayor Evelyn Diaz joined President Duterte, who was accompanied by Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go.

Tubaña was a member of Philippine National Police Academy Masaligan Class of 2011. He made a name for himself battling drug traffickers as a member of the San Mateo town police where he was assigned before his transfer to Mallig eight months ago.

He served for four years as aide de camp of the retired Chief Supt. Rodrigo De Gracia. He described him as “a silent type.” /ee