It was a job well done.
This was what Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director, Chief Supt. Debold Sinas said when he awarded the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting medal to Police Officer 1 Berlino Ricafort today, September 4.
Ricafort was wounded when a man, who was reportedly suffering from mental illnes, threw stones at him in Escario St., Barangay Camputhaw, last Monday, September 3.
The man, identified as Susanito Ellama, was declared dead when he was rushed to the hospital after the incident last Monday afternoon.
"Gi-subdue na to sa police. Gipusil niya (Ricafort), wala man gani gi-inda. I think it's legitimate firing, self-defense sa iyang kaugalingon, (The police subdued Ellama. Ricafort shot him and Ellama ignored it.)," the regional director said.
Ricafort was reportedly forced to shoot Ellama after the policeman suffered an injury when the stone the latter threw hit him hard in the head.
However, the police has yet to receive the official report from the Department of Health (DOH) whether Ellama was diagnosed as mentally disturbed.
Sinas said that they are trying to locate Ellama's family.
He added that they will shoulder all the hospital expenses for the surgery of the head injury sustained by Ricafort.
He hoped that Ricafort's response during the incident will be emulated by other beat patrollers when responding to any calls for assistance.
The PRO-7 will also give a letter of gratitude and commendation to the Angkas bikers, who helped the wounded policeman during the incident.
"There were five or six bikers who helped our policeman. We will locate them so that we can give them a thank you letter," Sinas said. (JOB)