LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — For killing a robber, who was notorious in various parts of the country, a policeman was awarded for bravery, police authorities here said on Wednesday.
The Police Regional Office in Cordillera (Procor) has awarded Senior Police Officer 2 (SPO2) Noren Bandao of Atok Municipal Police Station in Benguet province with the “Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting” (PNP Wounded Personnel Medal) and financial assistance.
Procor Regional Director Rolando Nana said the Philippine National Police would also shoulder his hospital bills.
Nana said Bandao had risked his life in pinning down Jonathan Mayangao Cabradilla of Irisan, Baguio City, the leader of the Cabradilla Robbery Group operating nationwide.
In a report released on Tuesday, Nana said the suspect was previously arrested in Cotabato for robbery in Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya and in La Trinidad, Benguet also for robbery.
According to a police report, Bandao responded to a call for help from a neighbor, who had said a robber was trying to steal her bag inside her house with a bamboo stick inserted through the window.
Bandao immediately responded and when he was about to arrest the suspect, Cabradilla fired his gun, hitting Bandao on the jaw. This made Bandao dizzy, but he still managed to return fire and shoot Cabradilla to death before the cop totally lost consciousness.
Bandao received the medal in the hospital on Tuesday, while waiting for his operation to remove the bullet slug from his jaw.
Nana said Bandao is a living testament that the police performs its mandate to serve and protect the community despite the risks that go with the service. (Dionisio Dennis, Jr./PNA)