PNP chief boosts benefits for slain cops

THE KIN of the six police officers killed in an ambush in Cagayan Valley have received around P 2.5 million in insurance, death benefits and financial aid,  according to the Philippine National Police.

Part of the aid was a personal donation from PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez, who gave P50,000 to each of the bereaved families (or a total of P300,000) when he visited the province on Feb. 23, according to a PNP statement yesterday.

Chief Supt. Ranier Idio, Cagayan Valley police regional director, said the families of the slain policemen also received P20,000 from the Public Safety Savings and Loan Association Inc., P178,008 in gratuity pay and P42,502 in burial aid from the National Police Commission (Napolcom). The families also received insurance claims from the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Inc. ranging from P125,844.01 to P127,410.98.

All in all, the relatives of the slain policemen received a total of P2,502,824.97 or about P400,000 each, including the personal aid given by the PNP chief, the police statement said.

The six policemen were killed while 15 others were wounded in an ambush carried out by communist rebels in Baggao, Cagayan, on Feb. 16. The fatalities, all from the Regional Public Safety Battalion, were identified as Ryan Annang, Derrel Sunico, Arjay Bautista, Rogelio Alfonso, Julius Soriano and Jaypee Aspiros.

The police were responding to an attack by the New People’s Army on an irrigation project in the town.

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said other benefits due to those killed in action such as a pension from the PNP and Napolcom, special financial assistance and commutation of accrued leaves were still being processed.

He added that the Medalya ng Kadakilaan was given posthumously to the six slain policemen, while the Medalya ng Kadakilaan and the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting were given to 17 policemen from the Cagayan Valley.