Six ICPO cops cited for heroism, exemplary performance

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

Six personnel of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) were recognized for their dedication to service.

Cited were Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benitez Jr., chief of the ICPO City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) and the City Intelligence Unit; and Master Sergeant Lionel Marigon and Patrolman Mark Deslate, both from the Iloilo Police Station 4.

They received the Medalya ng Kadakilaan (PNP Heroism Medal) during the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6’ flag-raising ceremony on Monday, July 24, at Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City.

During the same occasion, PRO-6 also recognized Captain Roque Gimeno, Senior Master Sergeant Evan John Piansay, and Patrolman Gerson Jason, also from the ICPO-CDEU.

They received the Medalya ng Kagalingan (PNP Medal of Merit).

Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, Western Visayas police chief, pinned the medals to the awardees in recognition of their exemplary performance.

Benitez and several other cops were cited for the arrest of the suspects who killed Alejandro Panes, Jr., on June 11 along Barangay North Fundidor, Molo.

Panes, a waiter at MO2 Restobar at Smallville Complex in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, succumbed to a gunshot wound on the lower left portion of his back and exited through the right side of his abdomen.

These include Ricardo Amoroso alias Rex, 58, who was lugged from his hiding place at his neighbor’s house in dela Rama Street, Barangay Zamora Milleza, City Proper district on July 12.

Amoroso was arrested several hours after his alleged cohorts were nabbed in the same village.

At around 4:10 a.m. of the same day, police arrested six suspects in a follow-up operation.

They were identified as Julius Inesoria, 58; his sister, Myla Inesoria, 52; Julius’s son, Rene John Inesoria, 20; and Jurex Amoroso, 32. All are residents of the said place.

Also arrested were Jesus Gecaraya, 24, and Johnley Cadiz, 30, both residents of Bangga Inday, Zone 5, Barangay Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City

Meanwhile, Gimeno and his team were acknowledged for the successful conduct of a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo City on July 5.

Arrested was Wynnlee Jaena, 49, of Barangay Democracia, Jaro, Iloilo City while his companion was Era May Calopez, 23, of Barangay North Baluarte, Molo.

Jaena, an ex-convict, and his lady companion were arrested at a motel in Barangay Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo, they were seized with around 120 grams of suspected shabu worth P816,000.