Wounded cop gets medal, cash aids
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has given P10,000 financial assistance from his own pocket to the wounded police officer during the shootout that killed alleged notorious hitman and murder suspect Jessie Largo.
Cebu Doctors Hospital President Dr. PotencianoYong Larrazabal has also pledged to shoulder the hospital bills of Police Officer 3 David Naraja Jr.
As this developed, Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela lamented on the discrimination imposed by a private hospital for refusing to admit Naraja unless he gives a deposit.
“Ang ubang hospital naa gihapon discrimination gihimo, dili dawaton kung walay deposito, despite sa balaod karon nga bag-o lang nga gi re-strengthen sa korte para dili gyud mo-discriminate ang mga pobre nga taw nga tua sa hospital,” Dela Rosa said.
Larrazabal, together with Philippine National Police Chief Ronald Bato Dela Rosa and Presidential Assistant from Visayas Michael Dino, visited Naraja in his room.
Dela Rosa, in his visit in Cebu, awarded Naraja, a member of the Regional Intelligence Division, the PNP Wounded Personnel Medal or Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting, and P50,000 to P100,000 worth of cash assistance.
Osmeña, who also visited Naraja separately, said he will not hesitate to extend financial assistance to any police officer who will sustain injuries in the line of duty.
“No limit basta policeman injured in the line of duty. If he needs medical assistance, we will give. P500,000 is not a problem. We will do what we can do to save the lives of our policemen,” he added.
Naraja was shot in his left face by Largo, who engaged the arresting policemen in a shootout. Largo was killed by operatives last Monday in his makeshift house in Talisay City.
Larazabal, in an interview, told reporters that the hospital will give a one hundred percent discount to Naraja’s hospital expenses including medicines.
“It’s 100 percent discount, because he is considered as a hero cop. I’m happy nga naa tay police ingon ana nga who give their lives to make Cebu-not only Cebu but the Philippines safer,” he said.
He explained that Naraja needs to undergo a series of surgeries for the reconstruction of his left cheek for they need to put a titanium sheet.
Because of the bullet, his left cheek was crushed. Fortunately, the bullet exited at the jaw and no major structures were injured particularly his brain and eyes.
Naraja, for his part, said he was glad that people appreciate his act, despite those people who bashed police officials when it comes to operations against wanted persons.
“Pasalamat sad ko nga gi-appreciate bisag daghan ang modaot sa polis nga ang polis patyon kuno ang tao bisag di kasukol. Di na tinuod ba. Ang polis naningkamot nga makakuan (protect) para sa mga tao,” he said.
He recalled that during the operation on Monday afternoon, Largo concealed himself at the ceiling waiting for someone to barge in his house.
When he peaked at the room, Largo immediately shot him using a .45 caliber pistol.
Even if he got hit, Naraja slowly retreated and was still able to fire back at Largo.
Naraja suffered a gunshot wound in the face and was rushed immediately to a private hospital where he was not admitted unless there was a deposit.
Chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino, director of Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said that Naraja was made to wait for more than an hour before getting the necessary medical procedures.
“Given the fact na immediately naglagay sila ng emergency.They apply yung mga first aid na kailangan but ang ano dun yung next procedure like the CT scan, proper care hindi nila gagawin hanggat hindi ka nagbayad ng P10,000. So, nakita ko yung policeman natin,. Nandun lang nakahiga, hinihintay na magbayad,” Espino said.
He said that Naraja was only given the appropriate treatment after his finance officer deposited P10,000.
“What I am calling to the private hospital, to give consideration to our policemen and other law enforcer na it is a result of an operation, eh sana naman eh wag na muna kaming makarinig na magbayad muna,” Espino said.
Yesterday a letter of complaint addressed to the management was officially sent to the private hospital.
Dela Rosa said that the police will study the situation first and see if they would have to file charges.