Cops’ kin to get aid

FLAGS in all police stations in Cebu Province were flown at half-staff yesterday, as the 1,600-strong provincial office mourned the deaths of its two officers in an accident in Dalaguete.

“We bow our heads and salute them for rendering service to PNP and dying in the line of work,” said Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, head of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).

An investigation is underway to determine if the police patrol car that SPO1 Jose Gino Ursonal and PO3 Cristopher Requina were riding suffered a mechanical problem that sent it down a 60-meter-deep ravine in Sitio Mag-alambac, Barangay Mantalongon last Thursday dawn.

The blue jeep-type vehicle, bearing plate number SHD-128, is under the temporary custody of the town’s motor pool while being examined.

Municipal employee Federico Caranua, who drove the vehicle, also died in the accident after they fell hard on huge boulders past 3 a.m.

Only PO3 Alan Sanoy, who was part of the police team deployed to the hilly village of Dugyan to provide security in its fiesta celebration, survived.

He managed to leap outside seconds before the impact.

Lawyer Zandro Ronnie Oriol, spokesperson of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) 7, said the families of the deceased policemen can now file to claim their death benefits.

Under Republic Act 4864 or The Police Act of 1966, any PNP member who sustains an injury or sickness while performing his/her official functions and dies or is killed in the line of duty is entitled to death benefits under Presidential Decree 1184.

Oriol said the families will get gratuity equivalent to one year’s salary based on the member’s basic monthly salary, burial expenses equivalent to three months’ basic salary, and monthly pension for five years, equivalent to 80 percent of the officer’s basic monthly salary.

Sanoy, who is recuperating in the Julio Cardinal Rosales Memorial Hospital in Barangay Poblacion, Dalaguete, can claim reimbursement for hospital expenses.

The young children of these policemen can also apply for scholarships with the Napolcom 7, Oriol added.

Insp. Dexter Basirgo, the town’s police chief, told Sun.Star Cebu that Requina was due to retire in April 2013. He had filed for his retirement last July, after 25 years in the service.

“Wa gyud kaabot. Mag-relax-relax na lang ta ‘to siya (It’s sad he didn’t’ make it. He would have had some time to relax),” said Irenea, Requina’s wife.

She said her husband was supposed to help her plant onions in Barangay Obo, to help relieve his hypertension.

Irenea said she’s keeping a brave face for the sake of their nine children. “Lisod kaayo kay wala na siya (It will be very difficult without him),” she said in a phone interview.

Her husband will be buried on Oct. 6, while the families of Ursonal and Caranua are still contemplating on the date. The policemen will be given official honors during the burial rites.