AN off-duty Cebu policeman, Police Master Sergeant Orvin Seth Lim Felicio, will be remembered as the 17th member of the Philippine National Police to be killed in the line of duty so far this year.

The intelligence operative of the Mandaue City Police Office was shot dead by a 16-year-old child whom he tried to accost for curfew violation in Mandaue City last July 27.

The teenager-turned Children in Conflict with the Law has been turned over to the municipal social welfare department as investigators and prosecutors work to prove if he really acted with discernment or the capacity to distinguish right from wrong when he fired the shots that killed Felicio on the spot.

Last week, PNP chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil conferred the posthumous PNP Heroism Medal or Medalya ng Kadakilaan to the late PSSgt. Felicio.

He also handed over financial assistance to the Felicio family who will also receive additional assistance from the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund, Inc., the Public Safety Savings and Loan Association, Inc. and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Savings and Loan Association, Inc.

Other benefits due to the late policeman from the National Police Commission and the government’s Comprehensive Social Benefits Program are still being processed.

The PNP chief also emphasized that the valor displayed by PSSg Felicio and other fallen police officers should inspire their colleagues to strive for excellence, resilience and vigilance in fulfilling their duties.

Felicio died past midnight of July 27, 2024 in Oakridge, Brgy. Banilad, Mandaue City.

An investigation showed that the off-duty cop was trying to stop an altercation related to a curfew violation when he was shot multiple times by the minor who was armed with an unlicensed firearm.

It turned out that the policeman noticed a group of barangay watchmen reprimanding some teenagers in the area for violating the curfew hours.

Instead of heeding the barangay men’s instruction for them to go home, the teenagers exchange heated words with them.

The motorcycle-riding officer saw the commotion and after identifying himself as a cop, told the teenager to go home as there is a curfew for minors.

It was at that instance when the teenager fired shots at the policeman.

The cop who was in the area to fetch his wife from work. He sustained gunshot wounds in the head and right arm and died on the spot.

Felicio, of Consolacion, Cebu, joined the PNP in 2008.

Prior to the killing of Felicio, Gen. Marbil has paid tribute to 16 other policemen who have been killed and at least 40 others who were wounded in the line of duty since the start of 2024.

The top cop said that the 16 police officers lost their lives in the performance of duty.

The 16th fatality, Police Master Sgt. Jed Michael Gregorio, a member of the elite PNP Special Action Force, succumbed to gunshot wounds during a clash with heavily-armed men in Purok 7, Brgy. New Panay in Aleosan, Cotabato last July 10.

Area Police Command-Western Mindanao commander, Major Gen. Bernard M. Banac said the slain cop was among the PNP-SAF commandos who provided tactical support to a composite team that tried to arrest Macabuat Salik alias ‘Kwat/Iskoh’ for illegal possession of firearms and drugs.

An ensuing gunbattle led in the killing of Salik and four other cohorts.

Gen. Marbil said among the wounded policemen were four members of the Manila Police District who tried to arrest a wanted murder and drug trafficking suspect in Tondo, Manila last July 11.

The suspect however refused to yield peacefully and fired shots at the Manila policemen hitting four officers before he and a cohort were shot dead.

MPD director Brigadier Gen. Arnold Thomas C. Ibay said the lawmen were on an official mission to serve an arrest warrant on Archie “RJ” Juco, a resident wanted for a murder.

Upon the arrival of the police, Juco and another man immediately locked the door preventing the officers from entering the suspect’s house.

The two later went to the second floor of the house, jumped out of a window, and climbed on a neighbor’s roof where they began to fire shots at the Manila cops.

As a result, Lieutenant Colonel John Guiagi, Majors Maj. Emmark Dave Apostol and Kevin Rey Bautista and Lieutenants Melvin Florida and Leo So were hit. They didn’t die.

Gen. Marbil honored the brave police officers who lost their lives and sustained injuries.

He also emphasized that the valor exhibited by the fallen officers should serve as an inspiration for their colleagues to strive to be better, stronger and smarter in their duties.

“Their courage must inspire us to perform our duties with the highest level of professionalism and utmost concern for our safety,” he said.