Rewards start pouring in for Mandaluyong cop

SPO1 Charlito Corpuz, who shot it out and killed three holdup men inside a public utility bus in Mandaluyong City last Saturday, is set to receive monetary rewards from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the office of Mayor Neptali Gonzales III.

PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has pledged P100,000 to be awarded to Corpuz.

Not to be outdone, Gonzales promised also to shell out cash and financial help for the hospitalization of the officer, who is still recuperating from a gunshot wound in the right hand at a hospital.

Corpuz’s bravery came at a time when the police organization is being rocked by the acts of a few erring officers, including four policemen from the Southern Police District (SPD) caught trying to dump the body of a salvage victim in Laguna as well as those involved in extortion.

Metro police chief Director Ricardo de Leon earlier recommended the spot promotion of Corpuz as he urged other policemen to emulate his deed instead of engaging in illegal activities.

It was De Leon who announced the PNP reward pledge during an on-the-spot inspection of the crime scene last Saturday night. He was accompanied by Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD); Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Mandaluyong City police chief; Superintendent Rodelio Jocson, head of the District Special Action Unit (DSAU) of the EPD and other officials.

Ebdane is set to personally hand over the reward to Corpuz at the Victor Potenciano General Hospital in Mandaluyong this week.

Apart from the cash, the PNP also vowed to shoulder the officer’s hospital expenses.

Corpuz was on his way to report to duty at Police Community Precinct 1 (PCP1) in Mandaluyong when the bus he was riding was held up by three men.

Corpuz engaged the suspects in a firefight, killing all three of them.

Corpuz was hit in the right arm. A bus passenger, Rolando Gaddi, 31, was hit in the leg. He is being treated at the same hospital.

Corpuz is the second Mandaluyong City cop to kill three holdup men in a bus heist. Four years ago, SPO1 Virgilio Reyes also figured in a shootout with five bus robbers at the South Superhighway and managed to kill three of them. Reyes was also promoted to the next rank.