Free memorial services for slain Manila cops

Families of policemen and firemen killed in the line of duty, will no longer be burdened with funeral expenses after the Manila city government forged an agreement with La Funeraria Paz Inc. to provide memorial services free of charge.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, who signed the memorandum of agreement with La Funeraria Paz president Jose Gonzales Jr., said that it was only fitting that the city government pay tribute to policemen, firemen and barangay security development officers who have been killed while performing their duty.

"This is a special agreement that would greatly benefit the families. The families of these policemen, firemen and barangay officials, who performed a heroic act, should no longer worry about the funeral expenses during that difficult time," Atienza said.

Under the special agreement, the La Funeraria Paz would offer a "special memorial service package" to 10 members/employees from each of the Manila Police Department, Manila Fire Department, and the Barangay Security Development Office every year.

This agreement is renewable every year.

They are entitled to receive retrieval of the remains from the place of death; body preparation to include embalming for five days; wooden casket; use of viewing chapels of La Funeraria Paz; use of viewing paraphernalia and equipment/cremation in case the viewing is done in the home, church or temple; documentation of the necessary internment or cremation or transfer permits; use of company vehicles to the conveyance of the deceased from the viewing place to the internment/cremation site; and their personal service.

However, the funeral parlor said that the memorial service is only offered for five days and should be done in Metro Manila.

If the family decides to extend the service, they would have to pay for the additional charges.

Posthumous award for Caloocan cop

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri has announced he would be conferring PO1 Joel Gonzales with a posthumous award and P25,000 to his family as financial assistance.Echiverri said it was ncessary to acknowledge the courage of Gonzales, who died while engaging two motorcycle-riding members of a robbery gang in a shootout last week.The policeman succumbed to six gunshot wounds after four days in the hospital. Gonzales sustained six wounds in his stomach. Although wounded, Gonzales managed to shoot dead Conrado Marcelo Jr., reportedly the son of Kwatog Gang leader Conrado Marecelo Sr. The policeman was on his way to his post at around 7:30 p.m. when he saw Marcelo and a male companion riding a motorcycle and acting suspiciously inside the Vista Verde Subdivision where he lived.Gonzales sought the help of the subdivision’s security supervisor, but even before the policeman could identify himself, Marcelo shot him several times. – With Pete Laude