PNP mourns cop killed in Bataan drug bust
THE Philippine National Police (PNP), headed by General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., is mourning the death of a Bataan policeman who was shot by one of two armed gun traffickers during a buy-bust operation in Orion municipality on Tuesday.
“The Philippine National Police mourns the loss of another police officer who died in the line of duty during a high-risk law enforcement operation in Bataan,” said a PNP Public Information Office (PNP-PIO) statement.
Police Corporal Darnel Alfonso, a member of the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) of the Bataan Police Provincial Office (PPO), was shot by the suspects who apparently sensed the ongoing sting in Barangay Purok 8, Barangay General Lim in Orion municipality at 1 a.m. Tuesday (May 23) and died while being rushed to a hospital.
One of the suspects was killed during an ensuing gunbattle with colleagues of Alfonso. However, Major Dennis Duran, the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Bataan PPO’s PIU, and his subordinate Staff Sergeant Glenn Salac were also wounded during the exchange of fire.
The PNP assures the orphaned family of Alfonso of the immediate release of all financial assistance and benefits due him, said PNP-PIO chief Brigadier Gen. Redrico A. Maranan.
The official added that Acorda has ordered the Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 leadership under Brig. Gen. Jose S. Hidalgo Jr. to provide for all the medical needs of the two wounded officers until their full recovery.
“The PNP will not be daunted by this temporary setback. Rather we will emerge stronger and more inspired by the heroic death of Cpl. Alfonso, who courageously came face-to-face with the enemy and made the supreme sacrifice while performing his duty,” said Maranan.
