CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—-President Rodrigo Duterte exhorted policemen and officers to be heroic but alive.
“If there is a police officer who is willing to give his life for others, that’s an honorable sacrifice. But it would be best if they are alive,” Duterte had said, according to Brig. Gen. Rolando Anduyan, police regional director.
On Thursday, Dec. 5, Duterte honored Senior Master Sgt. Jason Magno, the police officer who was killed in a grenade blast inside a school in Initao, Misamis Oriental last Nov. 28.
The President visited the police officer’s wake at his mother’s residence at the village of Poblacion where he posthumously conferred on Magno the Order of Lapu Lapu, Rank of Kalasag, pinning the medal on his casket.
Magno was also conferred the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Medal of Valor for gallantry in service.
Duterte was with his closest confidante, Sen. Christopher Go, and acting PNP chief Archie Gamboa.
Duterte rode a helicopter to Iligan City then motored to the Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital in Initao town to visit Master Sergeant Alice Balido who was injured in the Nov. 28 blast.
Balido was temporarily transferred from a Cagayan de Oro hospital to Initao for the President’s visit.
Duterte conferred on Balido the Order of Lapu-lapu, Rank of Kampilan. The medal is awarded to individuals who were seriously wounded or suffered great loss of property as a result of their participation in activity pursuant to a campaign or advocacy of the President.
Magno and Balido responded to a distress call at the Initao Community College because there was a man, later identified as Ibrahim Bashir, who was brandishing a grenade.
Magno scuffled with Bashir for control of the explosive. When the grenade, already without safety pin, fell to the ground, he attempted to grab and throw it away from people.
The blast also wounded 16 students. Police said there could have been more people hurt if not for Magno’s heroic deed.
At Magno’s wake, Duterte chatted with Magno’s mother Princesita, wife Vivian and four children.
He even managed to crack a joke to lighten up the mood. “He showed bravery. With me before, I will run straight to the culvert to hide,” Duterte said in jest.
Anduyan said Duterte told Magno’s children “your father was brave” and how much he appreciated their father’s heroism.
Duterte also promised to help Magno’s wife with the expenses for her upcoming medical operation.
“He (Duterte) had a heart-to-heart talk with Magno’s wife,” Anduyan said.
Anduyan said Duterte even managed to chat with Magno’s neighbors, and allowed some of them to have their photos taken with him.
“He didn’t leave right away and took the time out to talk with the people there. He made the people there feel that he is one of them,” Anduyan added.
Magno is set to be buried on Saturday morning at a private cemetery in Initao town.