Drug war leaves 12 police killed, 16 wounded—PNP records

A fellow policeman pays his last respects to Senior Insp. Mark Gil Garcia, who was shot dead while arresting an alleged drug pusher in Antipolo City on Friday night. Garcia’s remains lie at the Multipurpose Hall of the PNP’s Rizal provincial office in the town of Taytay. JODEE AGONCILLO / PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

Twelve policemen have died while 16 lawmen have been wounded amid the government’s intensified drive against drugs, the Philippine National Police announced Monday.

From July 1 to September 18, 12 cops from different regions nationwide were killed in anti-drug operations while 16 sustained serious injuries, records from the PNP’s Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) showed.

At a press briefing in Camp Crame, Supt. Arnel Esmaña of the DPRM’s Morale and Welfare Division said they are expediting the release of benefits for the surviving families of the slain cops, as well as those of the injured personnel.

Police officers killed in line of duty are entitled to the following benefits: P250,000 from the Presidential Social Fund, lump sum from accrued leave, lifetime pension and Pagibig benefits, burial allowance from the National Police Commission.

PNP members who sustained permanent injuries will also receive P250,000, P100,000 for those who suffered major injuries and P50,000 for those who suffered minor injuries.

To avoid casualties in the police side, PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa wants all police operatives, not only those in special combat units like Special Weapons and Tactics unit (SWAT), in anti-drug operations to have a protective vest.

“This is a priority, a basic the PNP chief wants our members to have–a personal protective equipment. During buy bust operations, undercover cops are in plainclothes so they should be wearing at least a concealable body armor,” PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said in the same press briefing.

The PNP has recorded 1,152 drug suspects killed in narcotics operations from July 1 to Sept. 19. JE