Tuesday, November 28, 2006 For role in hostage drama, cop to get rewards
THE off-duty policeman who shot a suspected robber and hostage-taker last Sunday will receive cash reward from Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
“I really admire people who are alert, who have presence of mind, who are off duty and out of their normal jurisdiction, makes a decision decisively. He puts his family aside to help, and very intelligently too…. He’s very admirable and exceptional,” the mayor said.
Osmeña would not say yet how much City Hall will give.
He said he also wished he could give Morales a promotion but that he is not authorized to do so.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Silverio Alarcio Jr. also said Morales deserves commendations.
Acting Cebu City Police Director Melvin Gayotin said he will submit to the Cebu City Government and to the PRO 7 his recommendation for Morales’ awards.
Gayotin said it is up to City Hall and the PRO 7 what kind of award to give to Morales.
Gayotin hopes that what Morales did will inspire other policemen.
Morales told reporters he was simply doing his job.
Morales is a member of the Bohol Provincial Police Office. But he is presently a detached service (DS) personnel of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID).
He hopes to be assigned at the Cebu City Police Office.
He said that as a DS personnel, he can be recalled anytime by his mother unit in Bohol.
Morales had just come from a church service inside the Mango Park Hotel on Gen. Maxilom Ave. at 11 a.m. Sunday when he saw security guard Romeo Flores with his gun drawn and appeared to be chasing somebody.
He later learned that Lemuel Enguinella, 18, had robbed the hotel after robbing two jeepney passengers.
While inside the hotel, Enguinella held hostage a 17-year-old intern.
Enguinella allegedly tried to shoot it out with Morales, forcing the policeman to shoot first.
