CHIEF Superintendent Robert Quenery, director of Police Regional Office-Central Visayas director, said the entire Philippine National Police mourned the death of Police Officer 2 Evie Espina.
He said in a press statement that necessary assistance will be given to the family of Espina, an anti-narcotics operative of Minglanilla Police Station who was killed by a suspected drug pusher Jovelio Franza on Monday afternoon, February 19, in Sitio Bacay, Barangay Tulay, Minglanilla, Cebu.
Franza was also killed by Espina's fellow operatives.
"His gallantry and heroism shall always remind and inspire police force in the region to continue the fight against all forms of illegal drug activities in the region even at the expense of the policeman’s lives," Quenery said.
Espina left behind his wife and four children.
Meanwhile, Franza was reportedly a notorious drug pusher and gun-for-hire, local police said.
After the operation that led to his death, police recovered around 38 grams of suspected shabu worth P500,000.
Two pistols and a grenade were also recovered from Franza. (KAL, JKV/SunStar Cebu)