Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. FILE PHOTO
MANIILA, Philippines—Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Tueday called the eight police officers killed in an ambush in Cagayan as “heroes of our people” as he condemned the attack as “a kind of savagery.”
“We strongly condemn this attack because it is a kind of savagery that has no place in our society,” Roxas said.
“This makes the attack all the more shocking and senseless since it was premeditated and carried out without provocation,” Roxas said.
The Interior secretary also assured the family of the eight policemen that they will receive the death benefits of their departed loved ones immediately.
The eight officers were all members of the elite Special Action Force.
Roxas said each family will receive P250,000 from the President’s Social Fund, from P141,000 up to P181,000 each from the Philippine National Police’s Special Financial Assistance; burial benefits of no less than P50,000 each; and gratuity of at least P203,000 each from the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
All in all, Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., PNP spokesman, said roughly P1.5 to P2 million will go to each family of the eight slain members of PNP’s Special Action Force on top of an estimated P15,000 monthly lifetime pension from the PNP, and roughly the same amount for five years from the Napolcom.
Roxas also promised full medical benefits of P170,000 each to the seven others who were wounded.
The eight officers were killed Monday when a landmine allegedly set up by NPA went off as the elite unit was on their way to a medical examination in Allacapan town around 8:30 a.m.
Killed on the spot were Police Officer 3 Vladimir Tabarejo, PO2 Elmark Rodney Pinated, PO2 Dexter Cubilla, PO1 Erick Brioso, PO2 Angelbert Mateo, PO1 Jerome Sanchez, PO2 Jonnel Bowat.
Another officer, PO2 Ronald Castulo, was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.
Seven others were wounded and were taken to the Balesteros District Hospital, Orlanes said. They were identified as follows:
PO2 Ronald Gomez, PO1 Ephraim Dolete, PO2 Geopano Adangui, PO1 Ryan Asunio, PO2 Ricky Monay Agana, PO2 Jeofrey Liagao Amiligan Liaga, and PO2 Jeofrey Elasco.
Police were checking reports that the group belongs to the Danilo Ben Command.
Roxas said police recorded no single fire fight or violent incident between the police and rebels since December, when SAF was redeployed to the province from another assignment.