Dead commando told pa: ‘We’ve dangerous mission’

Proud of his son, former Army MSgt. Perlito Agabon said that PO2 Chump Agabon “was killed in the line of duty.”

Agabon, who retired last year after 27 years in the military, now serves as a personal guard of a government agency head.

“They implemented an order and died doing their job. I have accepted that. But … he was brutally shot in the face, apparently at close range. His right face had been sliced toward the mouth,” Agabon told the Inquirer.

“His face was blasted, but I was able to identify him as a father knows his son,” he said.

He said his son was a trained sniper and a recipient of the medal of Kagalingan. Chump had joined other operations arresting high-profile armed criminals and received several meritorious awards and commendations, his father said.

Belongings taken

The senior Agabon said that like the other dead policemen, Chump had been robbed of his personal belongings and firearms.

He said he had asked the National Bureau of Investigation to perform an autopsy on Chump to determine the details surrounding his death. “I want to know how he died and if he suffered a lot.”

He narrated that he talked to Chump on the phone on Jan. 24 because he claimed Chump had the habit of calling him before going to any operation, not to discuss it, but just to ask for his blessing.

“Papang we have a dangerous operation. Just pray.” Agabon recalled his last conversation with Chump.

“He did not give any details, except that he was on a sensitive assignment and as usual told me Pang, just pray.”

The father said Chump had wanted to be a soldier, but he convinced him to become a policeman instead.

“He wanted to be an Army Scout Ranger like me, but I persuaded him to become a policeman because I didn’t want him to go through what I went through. As a soldier, we went where the trouble was and our lives were always in danger. Like any father would do, protect their child from danger, I thought he would be safer if he became a policeman,” Agabon added.

He said Chump had joined the police force after he finished a course in criminology in Iligan City. Chump became a member of the elite Special Action Force five years ago.

Wife nurse in Libya

He confirmed reports that Chump’s wife, who works as a nurse in Libya, arrived Wednesday to attend the funeral on Saturday.

He said Chump’s wife had to work abroad because they were raising money to pay for the operation of their 2-year-old child, who has facial impairment.

“After this we hope that the government could help her find a job here and also provide medical assistance to the baby,” Agabon said.

He added that apart from the financial support from the government, Chump’s family also received donations from private individuals.