LUCENA CITY, Philippines—As lawmen across the country removed the tape on the muzzles of their service firearms after the New Year’s celebration, members of the Quezon police force were urged to emulate PO1.
“Let us all emulate his acts of heroism by not hesitating to help distressed citizens at all times, even if we’re not in our area of jurisdiction,” Senior Supt. Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan said, in his message to the Quezon police force on Friday.
On Dec. 18, 2014, Portuguez, of the Lucena police station was in a patrol car in nearby Tayabas City when he came to the rescue of a woman in distress aboard a tricycle.
As the lawman approached the tricycle, one of its occupants drew a hidden homemade shotgun and fired at Portuguez, fatally hitting him in the chest.
The suspect was captured in a follow-up operation.
Portuguez was buried in Lucena City on Dec. 26, 2014, with full honors.
Ylagan said the slain cop was awarded a posthumous “medal of honor” in recognition of his heroism.