Duterte pays tribute to cop killed in Samar drug bust

CEBU, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday paid his respect to a policeman who was killed in an anti-illegal drug operation in Catbalogan City, Samar last week.

Duterte was scheduled visit the wake of PO1 Gary Cabaguing at the St. Peter Funeral Homes last Thursday, but cancelled his trip due to migraine and a spinal problem, ABS-CBN News reported yesterday.

Cabaguing’s family earlier pleaded for Duterte’s help in attaining justice over the untimely death of the slain policeman.

“We should give due credits and recognition to our policemen because they are our heroes. They risk their lives to protect us,” Cabaguing’s wife, Abegail, said in a statement.

Cabaguing was killed while serving a warrant of arrest on well-known suspected drug pusher Ernesto Gonzales at Barangay Logero in Marabut town of Samar on Wednesday.

Police said the suspect fired at the cops after he sensed their presence. A comrade of Cabaguing the Provincial Public Safety Company - Special Weapons and Tactics (PPSC-SWAT) Team, identified as PO1 Nestor Villanueva, was also wounded in the operations.

The President later visited Villanueva yesterday. He learned the news about Villanueva and Cabaguing while visiting the wake of Inspector Mark Gil Garcia, who was also killed in a shootout with two drug suspects last week. (FREEMAN)