‘Slain cop was a good officer’

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

Contrary to claims by the New People’s Army, slain Police Master Sargent Arnel Paurillo was a good officer.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) spokesperson, made the assertion after the NPA’s Napoleon Tumagtang Command claimed responsibility for the assassination.

The rebel group said Paurillo was involved in illegal drugs.

Gorero said Paurillo was far from what the NPA was claiming.

“Our records said otherwise. We believed that it’s their way to justify their barbaric and criminal deed – by painting a bad person out of a good cop,” he said.

Gorero said Paurillo was a dedicated anti-drug operative and was instrumental in helping the town of Tubungan in almost reaching its drug-cleared status.

He received various awards in the field of intelligence and operation in his 15 years of service.

He was bestowed 29 Medalya ng Papuri, three Medalya ng Kasanayan, and eight commendation awards.

PRO-6 records showed that Paurillo joined the PNP service in 2004.

In January 2019, he was assigned to Tubungan Police Station and was on detached service to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Drugs Enforcement Unit (IPPO-PDEU).

“On that fateful day that he was shot to death he was supposed to serve the warrant of arrest to a wanted person at Barangay Teniente Benito, Tubungan,” Gorero said.

The rebels apparently knew that Paurillo was conducting surveillance operations in the area. After all, he already endeared himself to the people of Barangay Teniente Benito.

Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, immediately directed Police Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas, Iloilo police director, to gather evidence and file criminal charges against the NPA.

“We also encourage the public to report to the nearest police station any information that can support the ongoing investigation conducted by Tubungan Police Station. We are saddened to have lost a dedicated police officer who serve with outmost dedication and loyalty to the Philippine National Police, particularly with the PRO-6,” Gorero said.

Armed persons who identified themselves as NPA members gunned down the 42-year-old Paurillo on June 15 in Tubungan town.

Paurillo, a resident of Barangay Bongol, San Vicente, Guimbal, Iloilo, instantly died from 17 gunshot injuries on the different parts of his body.