Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Benjamin Acorda, Jr. personally pinned the medals on Wednesday for the wounded police who figured in a gunfight with a notorious drug peddler in Sulu.
Citing them for gallantry in action, Acorda also commended the Special Action Force (SAF) team which “successfully neutralized the notorious illegal firearms peddler and alleged drug dealer Muksidal Jumadil during an operation before dawn Friday in Panamao town in Sulu”.
The PNP Chief pinned medals on Capt. Nolie Agmaliw, Lt. Rico Apal, Lt. Earl Abdurajan III, Cpl. Reymir Subion, Cpl. Lindo Macua, Cpl. Oliver Alviar, Cpl. Andres Dalang, Patrolman Edison Ray Paris and Patrolman Lionel Suaverdes.
They were members of the SAF’s 7th Special Action Battalion.
Acorda visited them in their hospital bed at the Ciudad Medical Zamboanga in Zamboanga City. He also 9 cash assistance to the wounded personnel.
"We commend the bravery of our personnel, but I urge that in all the conduct of operations, the safety of our personnel is our priority," PNP's top cop said.
"Every life ng ating kapulisan ay mahalaga," he added.
The SAF team was supposed to serve the warrant of arrest on Jumadil who engaged them instead in a brief exchange of gunfire. The warrant was issued by Acting Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, 9th Judicial Region, Branch 4 of Parang, Sulu. The incident happened at the Jumadil’s hideout in Barangay Seit Higad in Panamao.
Aside from this pending case, Jumadil was also the primary suspect in the killing of Nurdinja Dammang Aminuddin, a small-town businesswoman in Barangay Kanmindus, Luuk, Sulu, whose chopped body parts were found scattered in different locations in the said barangay.
Acorda said he was instructed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to personally visit the wounded police in Zamboanga after he briefed the President on the incident. PR