TEN Lapu-Lapu City policemen and an informant were given cash rewards and a certificate of recognition from the Lapu-Lapu City government for the arrest last month of one of the most wanted persons in the city.
Chief Insp. Conrado Manatad, chief of Mactan police station, nine other police officers received a plaque of recognition and an undetermined amount of cash from Lapu-Lapu City Police Chief Rey Lyndon Lawas yesterday.
The female police informant, who had her face covered received the P50,000 cash at the Mayor’s Office.
The policemen and the informant were recognized for the successful arrest of Demetrio Malingin Jr., one of Lapu-Lapu City’s most wanted who was captured by a team led by Chief Inspector Manatad last Dec. 26 in barangay Bangkal.
Malingin, who refused to surrenger, was arrested after a brief shootout with Manatad’s team.
Malingin was wearing a bulletproof vest and used two .45 pistols during the shootout. Manatad’s team managed to neutralize Malingin by shooting his ankle preventing his escape and capturing him alive.
“This doesn’t mean we could not do our job without the reward money, but the reward helps a lot as the persons giving the information to police on the criminal’s whereabouts also risked their lives,” said Senior Superintendent Lawas.
Malingin was the principal suspect in the strafing of a house in barangay Mactan last July 28, 2012, which resulted in the death of Prima Aying, the wife of Jerry Aying, who was the real target in the attack. Police said the motive of the attack was drug related.
Malingin became one of Lapu-Lapu City’s most wanted after he was involved in two murder cases and a frustrated murder case. Two of Malingin’s brothers Deo and Jay, were also involved in the strafing attack and remain at large.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said she was willing to help police to give rewards for the capture of wanted persons because the city government also had to ensure the safety of the public, especially the tourists visiting the city.
During the awarding, Lawas showed a tarpaulin with pictures of the 10 most wanted persons in the city.
He said tarpaulins with the pictures of the wanted men would be posted in public places in the city.
He said he hoped this would lead to the arrest of these suspects./Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza