I’M referring to the late Ampatuan Municipal Police Station chief in Maguindanao, Lieutenant Reynaldo Samson and Corporal Salipuden Endab who were killed while about to serve a warrant of arrest against a high-value crime target in the municipality on Tuesday last week.

The Philippine National Police leadership headed by General Jun Azurin has ordered full funeral honors for the two slain policemen with the assurance that all efforts are already underway to identify and arrest the gunmen who killed the two and wounded their fellows, Corporals Rogelio dela Cuesta Jr. and Marc Clint Dayaday.

I learned that when he spoke in a Malacañang press conference last week, some words uttered by Gen. Azurin did not go well with some of our peace advisers from the military who have been out there for so long trying to help finally put an end to lawless armed conflict in Mindanao.

But who can fault the Father of the PNP if two of his sons have been killed while in the performance of their duties? This reminds me of the emotional outburst of former PNP Officer-in-Charge, now retired Gen. Dindo Espina during a Congress hearing on the infamous killing of the 44 PNP Special Action Force commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015.

Gen. Espina made the whole country cry when he asked why his men have been shot to death, some in the head while still alive, why the SAF commandos who were in full uniform were not easily recognized by the hundreds of gunmen who attacked them, why their weapons and other armaments were stolen, why some of them were stripped of their uniforms?

Peace advisers usually don’t want our top security officials to say something that for them may affect their relationship with their partners at the other side. However, many police generals, active and retired have told me no one should blame Gen Azurin when he said his piece.

“He’s the Father of all members of the police force and it’s just normal for any father to say something once something bad happens to his son or daughter. Others may not like the words spoken of a grieving father but that’s natural for a grieving father,” a former top PNP official told me.

I also don’t find anything wrong with the words spoken by Gen. Azurin during that Palace press briefing. He only asked local leader in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to help find the killers of Lt. Samson and Cpl. Endab while maintaining that BARMM leaders “are now part of the government” and should be helping in solving crimes in the region.

“This government has given so much dito po sa brothers natin sa BARMM at mapapansin natin they have just been appointed. So, matagal na po na hinangad natin ang kapayapaan sa Mindanao,” he said.

Azurin questioned the alleged policy of local leaders requiring law enforcers to first seek permission before conducting police operations in their areas. “Apparently mayroon pong claim na ‘yung pinasok ng ating kapulisan is an MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) territory and ang sinasabi nilang kailangan pala ay nagpapaalam ang ating mga kapulisan at kasundaluhan kung papasok doon,” he said.

“I really question that because there is only one PNP, there is only one AFP, and we are here to serve our kababayan so bakit nila lilimitahan or kailangan magpaalam ng ating kapulisan doon?” he said.

Gen. Azurin likewise explained that seeking permission for every police operation could compromise the law enforcers’ target of catching the suspects. Such ‘policy’ actually have led in previous government debacles as best exemplified by the death of the Gallant SAF 44 who were on a mission to capture then Southeast Asia’s most wanted terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias ‘Marwan.’

“Kung bawat operation ng ating kapulisan doon ay magpapaalam ang ating mga law enforcers, ano ang probability na mahuhuli natin ang mga ‘yun kung sila naman po ay kakilala nila? Kung hindi man nila sila kakilala, dapat noong mula nang ma-appoint sila, sana po ay tumutulong sila sa pagtugis sa mga kriminal na ito,” the top cop said. Well said Chief.

WHY NOT GIVE REWARD TO CRIME WITNESSES TOO?

I have discussed this a number of times and on Monday, I suggested anew to the PNP leadership the idea of coming up with a reward system for witnesses in celebrated crimes like that of the 34 ‘missing Sabungeros.’

When I asked him to comment on the matter, PNP Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant Gen. Chiqui Malayo told me they would study the possibility of providing reward money to witnesses in crimes who will help solve the police force crack seemingly unsolved crimes.

“We will take that into consideration. It’s actually a good suggestion,” the classmate of Gen. Azurin from PMA ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989 told me. Lt. Gen. Malayo was named as PNP-OIC in the absence of Gen. Azurin who has joined PBBM in his Indonesian trip.

Lt. Gen. Malayo, the PNP Deputy Chief for Administration said that although the PNP would like everybody to be participants in solving crimes even without reward money, the idea of coming up with a reward system for informants is really worth studying.

He made the statement as he led the release of P3,310,000 in cash reward to 13 PNP informants who helped police track down 14 suspects in major crimes. The faces of the informants were covered with ski masks to protect their identities.

Lt. Gen. Malayo was joined by PNP Director for Intelligence, Brigadier Gen. Benjie Acorda Jr., PNP Deputy Director for Intelligence, Brig. Gen. Tony Yarra and PNP Intelligence Group director, Brig. Gen. Andrew Cayad in presenting the monetary reward to the informants.

“With the help of these informants, we have accounted for a number of most wanted persons in the country. They are actually the target of a massive PNP anti-criminality operation ordered by Gen. Azurin,” said Malayo.

According to the official, they have been stepping-up their effort to arrest Most Wanted Persons and Other Most Wanted Persons nationwide to prevent these lawbreakers from having the opportunity to “be given another chance to disrupt the activities of the people.”

The 14 who were arrested following tips provided by the informants were wanted for criminal cases ranging from murder, rape, forcible abduction with rape, multiple frustrated murder, and multiple attempted murder.

Lt. Gen. Malayo said that granting of monetary reward to persons (except government employees) who are instrumental to the arrest, surrender or death in legitimate operations of Most Wanted Persons is among the programs of the PNP for the immediate arrest of wanted persons in the country.

“This is part of our effort to truly make our streets safe 24/7,” said Lt. Gen. Malayo as he congratulated Brig. Gen. Acorda for their intensified effort to account for wanted persons in the country specifically those who are the subject of non-bailable warrants of arrest for heinous crimes.

He said that the informants’ faces were covered to protect them from possible reprisals from the cohorts of the criminals whom they have helped sent to jail. The PNP-OIC also congratulated the PNP-IG under Brig. Gen. Cayad for the major role they have been playing in the PNP-DI’s continuing effort to account for wanted persons in the country apart from monitoring plans of criminals and terrorists.