The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) vowed justice for the violent death of a policeman in Calatrava, Negros Occidental, as pursuit operations continue for the arrest of the perpetrators.
On December 7, the body of Senior Master Sergeant Rommel Aguilar, a member of the 3rd Maneuver Platoon of the 1st Negros Occidental Police Mobile Force Company (NOCPMFC), was found after he was reported missing, following his team’s encounter with unidentified armed men in Barangay Menchaca.
In an interview yesterday, PRO-NIR spokesperson Lt. Colonel Joem Malong said the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion based in northern Negros took over the pursuit operations.
“Ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Calatrava Municipal Police Station with support from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office,” she added.
In a statement, PRO-NIR Director Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay paid tribute to the fallen police officer.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of PSMS Aguilar — a brave police officer, a committed public servant and a brother in uniform. We will not stop until justice is served,” he added.
Around 10:50 a.m. on Sunday, December 7, personnel of the 1st NOCPMFC engaged a group of armed men while conducting a service of warrant operation.
The policemen dispersed, and Aguilar was later unaccounted for.
By 12:30 p.m., the Calatrava Municipal Police Station received a report from Laga-an village chief Vicente Maquiller of a body found in Purok 5, which they soon confirmed as that of Aguilar.
According to the locals, the policeman had been seeking help when six armed men arrived and shot him.
The same group was believed to be the perpetrators in the shooting that claimed the life of a 58-year-old man outside his home in the neighboring Barangay Dolis, about three hours earlier.
“We strongly condemn these brutal attacks against civilians and our police personnel. We are mobilizing all available resources to ensure that the perpetrators are tracked down and brought to justice,” Ibay said. (PNA)