PNP mourns death of Bugasong cop

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Philippine National Police is mourning a member of Bugasong Police Station in Antique who died after trying to arrest a shooting suspect afternoon of Oct 15, 2021.

In a Facebook post Sunday, PNP chief General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar vowed full assistance to the family of Staff Sergeant Elvin Agting.

Eleazar also assured that same assistance to two members of Naga City in Camarines Sur who also died in the line of duty.

“On behalf of the men and women of the Philippine National Police, I express my deepest condolences to the family of Police Staff Sergeant Elvin Agting, Police Chief Master Sergeant Romeo B. Padua and Police Corporal Christian J. del Valle for their ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their duty as police public servant,” Eleazar said.

“This is a sad weekend for police service, for the PNP as we grieve the death of three of our brothers in uniform. We are proud of their service to the Filipino people and we salute them for their sacrifice,” he said.

The 42-year-old Agting died after a shootout with 33-year-old Roy Jalipa whom he and other local police officer tried to arrest for shooting to death Barangay Councilor Efren Florendo, 60, at Barangay Cubay North, Bugasong.

Reports from Bugasong PNP indicated that the incident happened 5:30 p.m. at Cubay North.

The police received a call around 5:40 p.m. about the shooting incident in the area.

The caller, a certain Acay Cordova, claimed the incident victimized a male person. No additional information was provided.

Members of Bugasong PNP led by Lieutenant Fritz Padroncillo proceeded to the area.

When they arrived, they saw Florendo who appeared to be lifeless already.

Police conducted a hot pursuit operation to arrest the suspect, Jalipa, who reportedly hid at his sister’s house.

Before responding police could take cover, Jalipa was already peeping through the bamboo slat and took aim at Agting. The policeman was hit on the face.

Backup police personnel subsequently killed the suspect.

Agting was rushed to the hospital but died a few minutes later.

Police later recovered Jalipa’s homemade 12-gauge shotgun.

Padua, on the other hand, was conducting regular beat patrol along Caceres Street in Barangay Dinaga in Naga City on Saturday when he was suddenly hit by a metal pipe by suspect Jericho Cano from behind.

Cano then took Padua’s service firearm when the latter fell unconscious and shot him on the head.

After receiving report of a shooting incident from concerned citizens along Caceres Street, del Valle immediately responded to the area but was also shot by Cano whom he crossed paths at Barangay Tabuco.

Cano died after trading shots with the police during a follow-up operation in Barangay Sabang in Naga City.

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) also extended its condolences to Agting’s family.

“Our heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to his family and colleagues in these difficult times.

Deepest gratitude for your courage, selflessness and dedicated service to the PNP and to the Filipino people. May your soul rest in eternal peace PSSG Agting,” PRO-6 stated in a Facebook post.