|
Thursday, November 27, 2003
Arroyo commends Esguerra, Restua and other Swat men
By Dante M. Fabian
ANGELES -- President Arroyo Wednesday vowed an intensified campaign against kidnap-for-ransom groups in the country.
Arroyo announced this during her visit to this city Wednesday afternoon in Barangay San Nicolas of this city.
Arroyo, together with top Malacaņang officials, arrived here to pay her last respects to Angeles City Police Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) member PO1 Joselito Esguerra who died in a gun battle against the KFR group headed by Dr. Roberto Yap in Bataan last Thursday.
Arroyo was accompanied by National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force czar Gen. Angelo Reyes, Secretary Renato Diaz, Presidential Assistant for North Luzon, Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Chief Supt. Vidal E. Querol, PNP region 3 director, and other top
PNP officials.
During her visit, Arroyo condoled with the family of Esguerra and gave P100,000 as financial assistance to his family.
Following Arroyo's gesture, representatives of the Federation of Chinese Chambers of Commerce of Metro Manila also extended financial assistance to the family of Esguerra.
Recognizing the heroism of Esguerra, Querol awarded the late policeman a posthumous Medalya ng Kagitingan, and promoted him to Police Officer 2, the next higher rank to Police Officer 1 he held at the time of his death.
Arroyo also commended Senior Supt. Jimmy F. Restua, Angeles City police director, for having led his men in the raid and succeeded in killing Dr. Roberto O. Yap, the leader of the KFR group in the country and four of his cohorts.
She also handed over to Restua a check as a cash reward for his feat against Yap's group, which is at the top of the order of battle against the KFR gangs in the country.
Arroyo also expressed appreciation and gave financial assistance to Senior Insp. Florentino Dela Cruz Jr., PO2 Emmet G. Nunag and PO1 Carlos Bustos, both members of the Swat team who were wounded in the gunfight in Bangal, Dinalupihan, Bataan.
Esguerra's promotion was issued by Querol under Special Orders 1671 dated November 21, 2003 where he acknowledged Esguerra's acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry in the face of armed enemy in the operations against the KFR group of Dr. Robert O. Yap.
Sr. Supt. Abner Cabalquinto, PRO3 directorial staff chief, and Sr. Supt. Danilo T. Empedrad, PRO3 personnel and human resources development division chief assisted Querol in conferring the promotion to Esguerra.
(November 27, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
