THE chief of the San Miguel Municipal Police Station in Bulacan on Saturday night was shot dead by motorcycle-riding robbers.
Lt. Col. Marlon G. Serna succumbed to a gunshot wound in the head and died while undergoing treatment at Emmanuel Hospital.
Serna was responding to a robbery report when shot in Bgy. Buhol na Mangga in San Ildefonso municipality at 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Seventeen-year-old Jay Jay Gabriel, of Bgy. Soledad in Sta. Rosa City, Nueva Ecija, was hit by a stray bullet and is being treated at the hospital.
A total of P1.2 million in reward money was offered for any information that would lead to the identification and the arrest of the cop killers.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ”Benhur” C. Abalos Jr. said he will give P500,000 to the informants while the PNP leadership headed by Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. and Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) director Brig. Gen. Jose S. Hidalgo Jr. added P200,000 and P300,000 respectively to the bounty.
Gov. Daniel Fernando of Bulacan also offered P200,000, bringing to P1.2 million the reward for any individuals who could provide information that would result in the capture of the suspects.
An initial investigation conducted by the San Ildefonso Municipal Police Station showed that prior to the shooting incident, a team of San Miguel policemen led by Lt. Col. Serna conducted a follow-up operation regarding a robbery incident in Bgy. San Juan in San Miguel town, which took place around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The San Miguel policemen were in a dimly-lit portion of Bgy. Buhol na Mangga in San Ildefonso when the suspects launched their attack.
Serna, who used his own Ford Ranger pick-up in going after the suspects, was shot in the head by the gunmen who later fled on a motorcycle towards the direction of nearby Bgy. Akle.
Hidalgo said there will be no stone left unturned in the investigation into the circumstances that led to the killing of the San Miguel, Bulacan police chief.
“This is unfortunate news for us as one of our members was killed in line with our diligent effort to arrest lawless elements, and while nothing can make up for his loss, along with our deepest condolences, we assure his bereaved family that they will get the necessary benefits that is due to them,” the Central Luzon top cop said.
“Still, we are committed in our fight against all forms of criminality and we will continue to be relentless in our campaign at all costs,” Hidalgo added
