THE chief of police of San Miguel town in Bulacan died on Saturday night after being shot by robbers he and his men were pursuing.
A reward of P1.2 million for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspects is being offered by the Department of Interior and Local Government, PNP, and Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando.
The Bulacan police said Lt. Col. Marlon Serna was brought to the Emmanuel Hospital in San Miguel town in Bulacan but died while being treated. He sustained a gunshot wound in the head.
Injured in the incident was Jay Jay Gabriel, a 17-year-old resident of Barangay Soledad, Sta Rosa town in Nueva Ecija. He is confined at the Emmanuel Hospital, police said.
The Bulacan police Serna and his men were conducting follow-up investigation and operation in connection with a robbery incident that occurred earlier in Barangay San Juan in San Miguel town, also in Bulacan.
While in pursuit, police said Serna and his men spotted the two suspects who were aboard a motorcycle, in Barangay Buhol na Mangga in San Ildefonso town at around 10 p.m.
“The suspects immediately fired at the responding team, hitting Lt. Col. Serna in the head. The suspects later fled towards Barangay Akle in San Ildefonso,” the Bulacan police said.
The Bulacan police said of the P1.2-million reward, P500,000 was offered by Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr, P300,000 by Central Luzon police director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr, and P200,000 each by PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr and Fernando.
It extended the PNP’s condolences to the family and loved ones of Serna who, it said, “bravely served and protected the community.”
“We ask the public to remain calm and to refrain from spreading unverified information that may cause panic and confusion. Let us support the ongoing investigation and trust that justice will be served,” it added.
The Central Luzon and Bulacan police offices are conducting a thorough investigation on the incident.
Hidalgo Jr said no stone will be left unturned and assured the public that despite the incident, the Central Luzon regional police office will remain committed in the relentless campaign against all forms of criminality.
