THE two police officers who foiled a street robbery in Cebu City were called “modern day heroes” in yesterday’s Independence Day rites in the police camp.
PO2 Lea Juarez, who was earlier awarded the Medalya ng Kagalingan with PO2 Percival Perigo in Monday’s flag ceremony, got another reward – her own service weapon.
She was handed a 9 mm pistol, her first government-issued handgun.
She said it was a dream come true after four years in the service. In practice, senior officers are given first priority in the issuance of PNP weapons.
Juarez was using her personal firearm, a .40 Glock pistol when she chased and killed a fleeing cellphone snatcher with a single shot to the chest in Capitol Site last June 7.
She and PO2 Perigo were praised yesterday for immediately responding to a woman’s distress call and chasing two robbers on a motorbike who had grabbed the woman’s wallet and iPhone.
They did “not just think of themselves but of the welfare of the people,” said Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).
Comendador said as a junior police officer, Juarez was not issued a firearm yet since the PNP prioritizes senior police officers
Juarez shot dead robbery suspect 17-year-old Liel Alex Cabornay whom she tried to arrest after a snatching incident at the Cebu Business Park.
Juarez, who is assigned at the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of CPPO, shot dead Cabornay after he allegedly drew a .45 caliber pistol during a brief chase.
The teen’s cousin Richard Baculi, who drove the motorbike, was arrested by Perigo, a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team. /CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON AND GABRIEL C. BONJOC