Bontuyan may get 21-gun salute

CEBU, Philippines — The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 is open to giving the traditional 21-gun salute to slain cop Police Captain Delfin Bontuyan if the family requests for it.

PRO-7 Chief Debold Sinas told reporters in a press briefing yesterday that they will be waiting for the family’s request.

“We do not want to be intrusive, mao maghuwat lang mi if gusto nila. Pangit kasi if mohatag mi, unya di mosugot,” Sinas said.

A 21-gun salute is a military and law enforcement tradition to send off a comrade to his final resting place. It is done by a team of three honor guards, firing three shots using a rifle.

The ceremony is done as symbol that the person being laid to rest was cleared, and properly cared for. This tradition was taken from the U.S. military.

He explained that although Bontuyan’s name was included in the intelligence report for his alleged involvement in the illegal drug business by protecting drug lords, his death is a separate case.

He reiterated that Bontuyan was shot during an official duty for an illegal drug case back when he was still assigned in the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 before he was transferred to Jolo, Sulu in 2016.

“Ang case niya is separate, siya kasi he was shot by somebody and we just do not know who,” Sinas said.

In a text message to The FREEMAN, Christine Claire Bontuyan, the only daughter of Delfin, said that they are open to communicating with the police to give honor to his father.

She said they are also just waiting for the police to reach out and open the discussion on the matter.

“Yes we are open. We’re just waiting for the coordination of the PNP with us regarding the matter,” Christine said.

Delfin will be laid to rest on Thursday, May 30.

He was killed at the North Reclamation Area last May 21 by motorcycle-riding assailants who shot him while the vehicles stopped on a red light.

The Mabolo Police Station has submitted the SD card from the dash cameras of the taxi near the crime scene for enhancement, in order to determine the assailants.

At present, the PRO-7 is coordinating with the regional headquarters of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. (FREEMAN)