Wounded police chief gets medal

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Regional Office-7 has given a medal to a police station chief who was wounded in Monday’s encounter with a criminal gang in Boljoon, Cebu.

No less than PRO-7 Director Prudencio Bañas conferred the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting or the PNP Wounded Medal to Inspector Dexter Basirgo, chief of Boljoon Police Station, in his hospital bed yesterday morning.

Basirgo sustained gunshot wounds to his left arm and left leg after he was shot by gang member Arnel Coronel, whom he managed to also shoot and eventually kill.

Coronel was reportedly one of the remnants of a criminal gang led by Jojo Gañolon who was killed in last Saturday’s operation.

Basirgo said he is happy of the reward and is more inspired to do his job as an enforcer of the law, adding that he cannot afford to let the bad guys proliferate in his area.

“Lisod sad kaayo naa mi sa lungsod unya naa’y laing maghari nga badlongon. Dapat ang mga badlongon mangahadlok ning panahona, nga ang polis di mahadlok nila,” he said.

After he gets discharged from the hospital, Basirgo said he will come back to the police station to continue his responsibility.

“Magpabilin lang gihapon ko’s Boljoon. Wa’ ko mahadlok ana nila,” he said.

Basirgo’s wife Elvira said she does not want her husband to continue to work as a police officer because of the constant death threats they have been receiving.

“Nag-joke nga ako eh, gusto ko maghabal-habal driver na lang,” she said yesterday while talking to Bañas.

But the PRO-7 director answered, “Huwag naman, pinaghirapan niya iyan, eh,” saying that his wife, too, has once asked him to resign from the job.

Encounter

Early Monday morning, Basirgo received information that a group of armed persons were seen staying at a house in Barangay San Antonio, apparently did not move out after last Saturday’s operation that left their alleged leader dead.

Boljoon police led by Basirgo rushed to the area but before they could reach the house, they met several men in the forest who immediately ran away upon seeing the policemen.

“Mura mi’g nakalitan, abi namo og ordinaryo sila’ng mga tawo ba. Unya naka-uniporme man ‘mi, mao to nikabad sila og dagan,” he narrated.

The station chief said he was pursuing someone when Coronel, who was hiding, called his attention and aimed a gun at him.

“Paglingi nako, armas na man, so gibanatan pod nako siya. Paghuman nako og banat niya, tulo na mang dugo nako. Nisyagit ko sa akong tawo nga samaran ko,” Basirgo narrated.

He said he walked for some 200 meters before he could board the patrol car and was taken to the hospital.

According to Basirgo, the operation was legitimate, contrary to the claim of Coronel’s family that Boljoon police used excessive force.    

“Sila gyu’y una nga nipabuto. Di mahitabo nga rubout, samaran man gani ko,” Basirgo defended, saying that Coronel used a cal. 45 pistol in shooting him.

Bañas hailed his men’s accomplishment, saying he given him high moral.

The PRO-7 director said they will run after the remaining members of the criminal group in the area. — (FREEMAN)