Cop hurt in shootout recognized

A POLICEMAN was awarded with a “Medalya Ng Sugatang Magiting” after he was wounded in a shootout with a suspected drug pusher in barangay Jubay, Liloan town, northern.

Chief Supt. Danilo Constatino, chief of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), awarded the medal to PO2 Gabriel Opoc at the Perpetual Succour Hospital where the wounded policeman is confined for treatment.

Opoc was shot in the right arm by Elias Gulane, when police tried to arrest Gulane in a buy-bust operation last Thursday night.

Opoc posed as a buyer in the operation but Gulane was able to see through his act, said police.

Gulane allegedly shot Opoc with a .38 revolver triggering a shootout.

Opoc was able to return fire, killing Gulane.

Constantino said the Philippine National Police (PNP) will help shoulder Opoc’s hospital expenses./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON