PDEA officer Rallos laid to rest in Liloan

CEBU, Philippines —  The slain Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 officer Baby “Earl” Rallos was laid to his final rest yesterday at the Manila Memorial Park in Liloan, Cebu.

The family chose not to give a statement and maintained a solemn and private requiem mass at the Alliance of Two Hearts in Banawa in Guadalupe, Cebu City.

Fellow PDEA agents and some of Rallos' former colleague in the media industry were present.

Rallos was on his way home from the PDEA office on board his Toyota Altis when motor riding suspects ambushed him just several meters away from the Cebu Provincial Capitol compound.

The operatives of the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) recovered three packs of suspected shabu inside the luggage compartment of Rallos' vehicle and three firearms including an M14 riffle, 9mm and .45 caliber.

The family, in a previous interview, clarified that it was impossible that Rallos would possess suspected shabu especially that he was on his way home to get his wife for a celebration for his new promotion as Investigation Agent 3, which was just a few notch to become a deputy director.

One of his children pointed out that they would not believe that the drugs were owned by the older Rallos.

They said that it was his father’s habit to leave his car out in the open, parked in front of their house.

They said that based on the report given by the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) to them, dated July 27 about 9:37 p.m., there was no shabu declared on the list.

The family is also apprehensive on where to put their trust, following the recent incident which killed Police Officer 3 Eugene Calumba.

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) had formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) headed by CCPO Director Royina Garma. PDEA - 7 is part of the SITG.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino has condemned the killing of one of his agents in Central Visayas.

"We are one with the family of Agent Baby "Earl" Rallos as we celebrate today his life as a friend, colleague, brother, and loving family man," Aquino said.

Just recently, Aquino ordered a major swap among personnel of PDEA-7 and PDEA-6 to assure the safety of other agents following the death of Rallos. — GAN (FREEMAN)