A POLICE officer assigned in Asturias town was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Toledo City on Thursday morning, Dec. 3, 2020.
Police investigators identified the officer as Police Staff Sgt. Gerfil Geolina, 44, with address in Brgy. Don Andres Soriano (DAS), Toledo City but was assigned in Asturias.
Police Lt. Col. Junnel Caadlawon, the chief of Toledo City’s police force, told reporters that Geolina was on his way home on his motorcycle after his duty when two men onboard a motorcycle tailed him.
Upon reaching Brgy. Dumlog in Toledo City, the two men then approached Geolina’s motorcycle.
The back rider pulled out a pistol from his pocket and shot Geolina several times. The two men then sped toward Brgy. Sangi in Toledo City.
Members of Toledo City’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office rushed Geolina to a nearby hospital but he was dead when he got there.
Caadlawon said they are still trying to determine a motive for Geolina’s murder.
Caadlawon said he plans to coordinate with his colleagues in Asturias town and with Geolina’s wife to determine if the police officer had received death threats prior to his murder.
Police Capt. Gilfred Baroman, Asturias police chief and Geolina’s direct superior, said the last time he saw Geolina was when he was part of the police alert team assisting those who were affected by the sudden flooding that occurred in Brgy. Sta. Rita on Wednesday night, Dec. 2.
After the rescue efforts concluded on Thursday dawn, Dec. 3, Geolina immediately went back to the station to clean up then went home, Baroman added.
Baroman said Geolina was a hardworking officer and was known to joke around with his fellow police officers.
In honor of Geolina, the Philippine flag outside the Asturias Police Station is placed at half-mast.
Police Col. Aladdin Collado, head of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), has ordered investigators in Toledo City to look deeper into Geolina’s death.
“It should also be an airtight investigation because the victim is one of our colleagues,” Collado said. / GPL, AYB, BBT / JKV