IN A traditional ritual, Police Corporal Marlon Tacay Casil was finally laid to rest in his hometown in barangay Poblacion, Kibungan, Benguet on Wednesday, April 10.

Casil died after an improvised explosive device (IED) went off during an encounter between his unit and the New People’s Army in Tadian, Mountain Province on April 2. Nine other police officers were wounded.

While the country honored its fallen heroes during the 77th commemoration of the Day of Valor of April 9, the grieving family left behind by Casil met with Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde, who was visiting Baguio.

Albayalde offered his condolences to the family and bestowed a posthumous Medalya ng Kadakilaan to the slain officer.

Retired police officer and Mayor Cesar Molitas said Kibungan offers sympathies to the bereaved family of Casil.

“He (Casil) died for his country. It’s a great a loss for the umili (people),” added Molitas.

In Baguio City and La Trinidad, Albayalde also pinned on the wounded PNP personnel the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting.

The wounded officers are: Police Staff Sergeat Salvador Agalatiw; Police Corporal Edwin Keya Jr.; Corporal Ramadick Meloy, Pat Erwin Calixto, Marcelo Bayeng, John Calcaligong, Terence Dulnuan, and Clifford Gama; and Police Master Sergeant Alphedes Alvaro.

Three of the wounded cops are recuperating from their wounds.

Albayalde said they have reinforced one company of Social Action Force coming from Manila and will be working on the internal security operations in Mountain Province.