NCRPO cites Caloocan cop slain in drug war

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has conferred the Medalya ng Kagalingan (medal of merit) on a policeman who died in an encounter with drug suspects in Caloocan City last week.

NCRPO chief Director Oscar Albayalde posthumously conferred the award on Police Officer 3 Junior Hilario, 36, during a visit at his wake in Barangay Bagumbong on Monday night.

Hilario’s six-year-old son gave Albayalde a salute.

Chief Inspector Moner Orang, head of the Caloocan police North extension office, commended the fallen police officer for his bravery.

“He is the kind of officer who never questioned the wisdom of his superiors,” Orang told The STAR.

On Friday, members of the Police Community Precinct (PCP) 3 received information that drug suspects Jayson de la Cruz, alias Killer, and Mart Ian Herrera, were spotted along Paraiso street in Barangay 175, Camarin.

De la Cruz and Herrera were supposedly about to remit drug money to their supplier.

PCP3 commander Chief Inspector Ronald Cayago immediately deployed a team of policemen including Hilario to arrest the suspects.

De la Cruz and Herrera allegedly opened fire at the responding police.

Hilario was hit in the initial volley of gunfire, prompting his colleagues to return fire, killing De la Cruz on the spot.

Hilario was rushed to the N. Rodriguez Hospital in Tala where he was declared dead on arrival.

Herrera managed to escape. But he was killed by police in a follow-up operation along Diamond street, also in Barangay 175.

Probers said they recovered a .45-caliber pistol, a .38-caliber revolver, seven sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia from the suspects.

Chief Inspector Ilustre Mendoza, assistant Caloocan police chief, said the death of Hilario showed that drug suspects have become bolder.

“Accusations of summary executions put the Caloocan police in a bad light, but the death of Hilario proved that police officers are willing to risk their lives in the campaign against illegal drugs,” Mendoza said.

Kian delos Santos, 17, andformer University of the Philippines student Carl Angelo Arnaiz, 19, were killed by Caloocan policemen in alleged shootouts.