MPD holds vigil for slain official

The remains of a slain Manila police official were brought to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters yesterday for an overnight vigil, where his colleagues paid their last respects to their superior who died in service.

Inspector Oliver Lusero, 33, detailed at the MPD’s District Police Intelligence Unit (DPIU), was shot by one of the arrested members of a robbery gang while they were being transported to the headquarters last Friday.

He died last Sunday at the UERM Hospital.

Lusero’s assailant, one Roger Balagat, was in turn shot dead by DPIU operative PO2 Jolly Aliangan when the former tried to snatch the cop’s service firearm along Road 10 in Tondo in a follow-up operation.

Meanwhile, the Filipino-Chinese General Chamber honored last Monday eight Manila policemen who were wounded and killed in action.

The annual recognition, held at Heroes Hall in Malacañang, is bestowed by the group for the bravery shown by the men and women in police service.

Survivors of three Manila policemen killed in action, namely SPO2 Antonio Razala, PO2 Enrique Lazaro and PO3 Angel Lico, received the heroism award bestowed on the fallen cops.

Two injured policemen, SPO1 Manuel Aceveda and PO2 Donny Francisco, were given special recognition for risking their lives while pursuing suspected criminals during police operations.

The group also gave awards to three policewomen of the MPD’s Civil Disturbance Management Unit as frontliners who suffered injuries at the hands of protesters in Mendiola last Oct. 21.

They are Senior Inspector Rosanna Mangao, PO3 Aldine Moreno and PO3 Ma. Theresa Solidarios.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong hailed the group for recognizing the heroic acts of Manila policemen.

"The MPD expresses sincere gratitude to the organizers as we salute our colleagues who never fail to continue to carry on our mandate to uphold peace and order," Bulaong said.

Lusero, whose remains will be interred in his home province Cagayan de Oro City, is already included in next year’s honorees of the group. – Nestor Etolle