MANILA — Three Pasay police officers were awarded medals by Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Thursday for neutralizing a gunman, whom they tried to disarm and arrest.
The PNP chief along with National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) head Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar awarded the “Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting” to Police Officer 3 Tina Villanueva and Police Officer 1 Arman Canasares, both of the Pasay Police Community Precinct 7.
The two police officers were wounded during an encounter with an armed suspect, identified as Edgardo Samson, last Wednesday in Malibay, Pasay City.
Albayalde also gave financial assistance as well as a .45 caliber pistol as a reward.
Meanwhile, Police Officer 3 Noel Bunal, also of the Pasay police, received the “Medalya ng Kagalingan” for his bravery and immediate response to the crime scene, which resulted in the death Samson.
Initial report said the shootout happened on Wednesday around 9 p.m. between elements of PCP 7 of the Pasay police, who were responding to reports that a person, who was later identified as Samson, was brandishing a firearm along F. de Guzman St., in Malibay, Pasay City.
While approaching the suspect, the police officers ordered Samson, who was with another suspect Mark Ocampo, to surrender his firearm.
Instead of complying, the suspect drew his firearm and shot the two policemen while Ocampo grabbed Villanueva by her arm and attempted to get her sidearm, which led to a shootout.
Villanueva was hit on the shoulder and knee while Canasares was wounded in the hip. Ocampo was also hit in the leg.
Although wounded, Samson managed to run away. Lawmen managed to track down Samson’s location on Cornejo St., also in Malibay, where he entered the house of Rodelio Lagmay and shot it out with authorities. (Benjamin Pulta/PNA)
