PHILIPPINE National Police Officer-in-Charge (PNP-OIC) Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr. on Tuesday bestowed the PNP Distinguished Conduct Medal to an Eastern Visayas policeman who was shot dead by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels while he and his colleagues were helping villagers in Gandara, Samar last Saturday.

Joined by Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) Director Brig. Gen. Bernard M. Banac, the top cop likewise assured the surviving kin of the late Patrolman Mark F. Monge of financial support and social benefits due to police personnel who died in the line of duty.

The posthumous PNP Medalya ng Kadakilaan was received by the father of the slain cop, who was cited for “bravery, heroism, above and beyond the call of duty” when his team defended themselves from some ten heavily-armed NPA rebels that attacked them while they were conducting humanitarian activity at the areas of San Nicolas, San Jose de Buan, and Barangay Mabuhay in Gandara municipality.

The surviving kin of Pat. Monge will receive death benefits that include P500,000 from the President’s Social Fund; P256,345.98 as Special Financial Assistance (SFA) and P107,462.34 as Commutation of Accumulated Leave (CAL) from the PNP; a P445,020 gratuity from the National Police Commission (Napolcom); and P100,000 Pamanang Lingkod ng Bayan from the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Last Sunday, Lt. Gen. Danao also gave P200,000 financial assistance to the family of Monge, who also got P100,000 support from Brig. Gen. Banac.

Monge’s kin is also entitled to claim insurance amounting to P975,504.22 from the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund, Inc.

These death benefits are on top of the estimated monthly salary lifetime pension from the PNP of the police officer and roughly the same amount of pension for five years from Napolcom.

“We feel the anxiety of every wife, child, and parent of our policemen. Just like that, another policeman’s family can become fatherless, another can become a widow, and another parent can lose a child while our policemen perform their duty to ensure that our countrymen are safe in their homes. The only way to address the situation is to strike hard on these terrorists,” Lt. Gen. Danao said.

He also said that “Patrolman Monge did not die in vain, as the PNP derives inspiration from his heroic death.”

“Hindi natin hahayaang masayang ang magandang sinimulan ni Patrolman Monge. Hindi natin hahayaang magwagi ang mga teroristang ito, tuloy ang ating pagsugpo sa kanilang grupo,” Lt. Gen. Danao said.

Police forces across the country have mourned the death of Pat. Monge, as the PNP-OIC, said he wishes that the Philippine media would highlight the sacrifices of the police force in fighting criminality, terror, and corruption in the country, particularly the officers who have died in the anti-drug war and crackdown on insurgency and terrorism.

Pat. Mongre became the 309th policeman to be killed in the line of duty since 2016 – 59 were shot dead while performing anti-narcotics operations, 161 died in anti-criminality campaigns, while 91 perished as a result of counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism drives.

Ten of the 309 slain policemen were killed while conducting anti-illegal drug operations in Metro Manila.

“We grieve for another policeman killed in the performance of duty. He may not be with us anymore, but rest assured that his memory will not be forgotten,” said the top cop.

Banac said that Pat. Monge was among the members of the 804th Maneuver Company of the Eastern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company who encountered around ten heavily-armed NPA guerrillas while conducting humanitarian activity in the areas of San Nicolas, San Jose de Buan, and Barangay Mabuhay in Gandara, Samar last Saturday.

According to the Eastern Visayas Police director, the officers led by Lt. Mark Mhon Amistoso were fired upon by the leftist gunmen hiding in the bushes.

The lawmen returned fire and forced the rebels to flee on foot after a 5-minute firefight. However, Pat. Monge was severely wounded during the clash and died while being taken to a local hospital.

Brig. Gen. Banac said that the NPA group was believed to have suffered an undetermined number of casualties during the gunfight. He said that officers are checking hospitals and clinics in the area for the presence of any person being treated for a gunshot wound.