PO3 Wilfredo Gueta
When President Duterte announced a pay hike for all policemen starting next year, PO3 Wilfredo Gueta, a bemedaled member of the Pasig City police, was excited.
“He was expecting that soon, once his salary [went up] this January, we could get a loan from the bank and buy our own house,” his wife, Sally, told the Inquirer.
However, the 46-year-old Gueta, a member of the Pasig police antinarcotics and follow-up unit, died without realizing his dream.
As his colleagues were attending a Christmas party at the city police headquarters on Dec. 18, he was killed during a surveillance operation by their target, suspected drug pusher Roberto Liaguno.
Just another operation
According to the report sent to Pasig police chief, Senior Supt. Orlando Yebra Jr., Gueta, the group’s team leader, spotted Liaguno around noon in his house on Katarungan Street in Barangay Caniogan.
But Liaguno ran away, prompting Gueta and PO1 Raymond de la Cruz to give chase. Liaguno then opened fire, hitting both policemen before he was shot dead by the other operatives.
Gueta was rushed to Rizal Medical Center for a gunshot wound in the chest. He died two hours later while De la Cruz, who was hit in the leg, survived.
At Gueta’s wake, Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and other high-ranking officials paid tribute to the slain police officer, calling him a hero.
He was awarded the Medalya ng Kagitingan posthumously while Dela Rosa promised to help out his family financially.
A graduate of Business and Custom Administration from PMI Colleges, Gueta was offered a job at the Bureau of Customs but he turned it down.
Childhood dream
“He told me it was too corrupt in customs that’s why he followed his childhood dream to be a cop,” Sally said.
Gueta’s colleagues were all praises for the slain policeman whom they called “Alamat (Legend).”
“[The] Pasig [police] lost a very good operative. He was very industrious and when he was given an assignment, he made sure to do it,” said his coworker, SPO1 Rodelio Olalia, who has been tasked to handle Gueta’s case.
Dela Cruz, the last policeman to fight side by side with Gueta whom he called his leader and mentor, said he was an exceptional lawman.
“If there was a suspect who was hiding here in Metro Manila, it would be impossible for Sir Gueta not to find him. He was a very excellent officer. All of us here admired his skills and expertise,” Dela Cruz said.
Upon his entry into the PNP in 2000, Gueta was assigned in the cities of Marikina and Pasig. In 2003, he was a member of the National Capital Region Police Office’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force.
Over his 17 years in the service, he received several medals, including five Medalya ng Papuri, a Medalya ng Paglilingkod Laban sa Kriminalidad, a Medalya ng Pagtulong sa Nasalanta, a Medalya ng Kagitingan and, recently, a Silver Eagle award.
In an interview with the Inquirer, Sally recalled how passionate and devoted to public service her husband was, how he would get calls from work in the wee hours of the morning or while he was with his family.
“Sometimes, I got jealous of his work. He spent more time at work than with us,” she said.
“I am proud of my husband even though this was the path he chose to take. I am happy especially when people tell me how great he was as a policeman, of the missions he accomplished,” she added.
Spotted on TV
Sally said she was happy every time she saw him on TV for his achievements, the last time being the capture of the suspect in the murder of a bank employee last month in Pasig City.
“The life of a policeman is very hard. When my husband shot dead a drug suspect in 2013, there were months he did not receive his salary and bonuses,” Sally said.
“Not all policemen are bad. Maybe there are a few, but I saw in my husband’s heart his love for public service,” she added.
Gueta left behind three sons aged 14, 10 and 4. “Two of my sons want to be policemen. I don’t know if I would still allow them. I am afraid now,” said the widow who now has to sell snacks to support her family.
“During our last conversation, my husband told me not to remarry if he dies. I was shocked by [his request]…Still, I promised him I won’t remarry. I will take care of our sons. This is my promise to him,” she said.