Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar mourned the death of a Special Action Force (SAF) member who was killed during an armed encounter in Nunungan, Lanao del Norte.
Eleazar honored Police Corporal John Oliver Rodriguez as a hero, who made the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect the people.
“Losing a policeman like Police Corporal Rodriguez is truly a great loss to our organization,” Eleazar said as he expressed his deepest sympathies to the bereaved family.
He assured, “We will honor his service and sacrifice by ensuring that his family is well taken care of.”
The PNP’s top cop cited two other SAF personnel: Police Corporal Michael Aidan Troy Abella and Patrolman Cris Daryl Dolo, who were wounded in the same encounter, assuring them of medical and financial assistance.
On Saturday operatives of the Nunungan Municipal Police Station and the Lanao del Norte Drug Enforcement Unit, together with SAF personnel from the Regional Special Operations Unit X and Regional Mobile Force Battalion X, were about to implement a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) against Naen Ampatua Tumog when an armed encounter erupted.
The search warrant for Tumog’s home in Barangay Rebucon was issued by Judge Alberto Quinto of the Regional Trial Court Branch 21, 12th Judicial Region in the Municipality of Kapatagan.
Tumog and Rodriguez were killed during the firefight while two other SAF personnel were wounded.
Authorities were able to recover one caliber 5.56mm M16 rifle with bandolier and a number of magazines and ammunition from the suspect.