Two medals and a ‘GC’ for Marikina cop wounded in funeral wake shooting

—Photo courtesy of Eastern Police District

Two medals and a “GC” for a new gun.

These were the rewards given by the Philippine National Police to a Marikina City officer who was wounded after exchanging fire with a man who went on a shooting spree at a funeral wake last week.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa personally awarded PO1 Hannie Acebron with the PNP Wounded Medal Award and the PNP Merit Award, along with a gift certificate for a .45-caliber Glock pistol from the company Trust Trade.

Dela Rosa visited the 27-year-old Acebron at the PNP General Hospital, where he remained confined for a gunshot wound in the leg, according to Senior Supt. Lorenzo Holanday, Jr., Marikina police chief.

Acebron was one of the officers who responded to a shooting incident shortly before midnight on Saturday in Barangay Marikina Heights, where 25-year-old Roan Baranda reportedly opened fire on the people attending a wake on Apitong Street.

The police said Baranda, who worked as a dishwasher, pulled a pistol and went amok while playing coin toss with friends. A resident, 23-year-old Wilfredo Lagaras, was hit in the thigh and arm.

Baranda fought it out with the responding policemen and hit Acebron before he was killed, according to PO3 Rodrigo Febreo Jr. of Marikina Police Station 6.

Febreo said Baranda was on the local drug watch list and his house was scheduled to be visited by the police under the “Oplan Tokhang” antidrug campaign.
Baranda’s cell phone received a text message on Saturday morning warning him about his impending “arrest,” which Febreo said may have driven him paranoid.

A Marikina Heights security officer also said Baranda had several complaints filed against him for malicious mischief.