CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan—The two Bulacan policemen who were wounded in a shoot-out while serving a warrant of arrest to a leader of a syndicated robbery hold-up group in San Miguel town were awarded the medal for wounded officers while recuperating in hospitals.
PMGen Cesar Pasiwen, Police Regional Office 3 Director and Bulacan Police Director Colonel Relly Arnedo on Tuesday pinned Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting to PCpl Richard Neri, 35 and Pat Aaron James Ibasco, 24 both from 3rd Platoon, 2nd Maneuver Team of 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Command while they were confined in Padilla Hospital in Plaridel town and Bulacan Medical Center in City of Malolos respectively.
Pasiwen said the two police officers were already declared out of danger but hey have suffered major gun shot wounds.
Neri was hit twice on his jaw while Ibasco suffered several shots on the left side of his abdomen. Arnedo said if not from the bulletproof vest of Ibasco, he could have been killed due to multiple gun shot wounds.
Pasiwen hailed the two as role models for their dedication and service as police officers therefore deserving to be given recognition.
In a press conference on Tuesday, following the pinning of medals, Arnedo showed to media the bullet traces on the uniform and vest of Ibasco.
Pasiwen also handed financial support to the two police heroes.
Rommel Suarez, 45, remnant leader of Salvador robbery and hold-up group based in Gapan, Nueva Ecija and operating in different places in Central Luzon together with his cohort Elcid Pasecual, 21 were killed during the shoot-out in their safe house and firing range area in Barangay Maligaya San Miguel town at around 2:30 a.m. on Monday.
The team of Neri and Ibasco were serving a warrant of arrest against Suarez when the suspects including Fernando Perez, 56; Reynier Dela Cruz, 24 suddenly opened fire and hit them.
Perez and Dela Cruz, both from Maligaya and Shierlyn Ann Pangilinan and Rowena Daquiz, both from Nueva Ecija were arrested and were charged of frustrated murder, illegal possession of firearms and direct assault to authorities including illegal drug charges.
Arnedo said the group is also behind the series of robbery incidents in Nueva Ecija and San Miguel town.
The hideout of the suspects in Maligaya has a huge firing range and is as if a training ground for their illegal activities, the police director added.
Seized from them were one 12 gauge shot gun; two .45 calibre pistol, several magazines and bullets for different firearms, 4 sachets of shabu and a weighing scale.
