Medal urged for bomb expert killed in grenade blast
City police director, Sr. Supt. Melvin Mongcal is recommending a posthumous award for the late SPO3 Rafael Managuit, who was killed when a grenade he had recovered earlier exploded inside a police sub-station.
“I am personally recommending that a medal be given to him,” Mongcal told The News Today in a phone interview yesterday.
He had also ordered the creation of a Line of Duty Status Board to look into the circumstances regarding the death of Managuit, particularly on whether or not it was in line of duty, for purposes of giving a posthumous award to the slain explosives expert.
But Mongcal stressed that the creation of the Board was just a formality, as it is clear that Managuit died in line of duty.
“It's just a matter of following the correct procedure,” he added.
Mongcal explained that the Board will be the one which will recommend to the Police Regional Office 6 that the late Managuit be awarded.
However, it cannot yet be known what particular award will be given, as it is dependent on the outcome of the Board's investigation, the city police chief said.
Meantime, Mongcal said that the colleagues of the slain cop in the Iloilo City Police Office have “passed the hat.”
“We're passing the hat around for him. The amount is not that big, but we hope this could help,” he said.
According to reports, Managuit, who is set to retire next year, left behind a wife and four children.
Mongcal said that the Philippine National Police is extending special financial assistance to the family of police officers who are killed in line of duty. The amount depends on the rank.
The City Government will be giving P50,000 to the family of Managuit; P40,000 to Police Officer 3 Abundio Diaz Jr.; and P10,000 each to Police Officers 2 Roque Gimeno III and Albert Sardua Jr.