Agui’s PMA ‘mistahs’ to launch all-out war vs NPAs

TUGUEGARAO CITY — Classmates of slain Cagayan Rep. Rodolfo Aguinaldo from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), led by Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Enrique Galang, called yesterday for all-out war against communist rebels.

Members of PMA Class 1972 vowed to "go after the necks" of Aguinaldo’s killers, accusing the Communist Party of the Philippines, National Democratic Front (NDF), and New People’s Army (NPA) as perpetrators of the crime

In a statement, PMA Class ’72 denounced Aguinaldo’s killing as "patently inhuman, committed by lawless, godless and ruthless elements."

The statement was read by Galang, the class president, during funeral rites for Aguinaldo at the Santo Niño Church here last Saturday.

Others of Class ’72 who attended the funeral were: Chief Superintendent Arturo Lomibao, Ilocos police director; Chief Superintendent George Aliño, Eastern Police District director; Chief Superintendent Clyde Cabreros, PNP Computer Center deputy director; Chief Superintendent Rowland Albano, National Capital Region Police Office; Col. Victor Noveras, Army’s 503rd Brigade; and former Constabulary Col. Billy Bibit, Customs police force.

Aguinaldo and his bodyguard, Police Officer 2 Joey Garo, were shot dead on the night of June 12 in front of the congressman’s rented apartment on Magallanes street in Tuguegarao.

Aguinaldo was shot four times on the nape and left arm, and took another four bullets in the back. He died 30 minutes after being taken to St. Paul Hospital.

The NPA later admitted the killing, saying that Aguinaldo owed "blood debts" to the people.

Garo, 35, will be posthumously promoted to the next rank and will receive the Medalya ng Katapatan (Medal of Loyalty), apart from the award usually given to slain policemen and soldiers.

Garo died on the way to St. Paul Hospital after being shot five times in the back when he tried to shield Aguinaldo from the NPA hit men.

Cagayan Valley police director Chief Superintendent Dominador Resos told reporters yesterday the medal will be pinned on Garo’s widow, Joy, by Philippine National Police chief Director General Leandro Mendoza.

Resos said Garo’s two children will also be given scholarships from elementary to college by the PNP Foundation and that his family will receive at least P7,000 in monthly pension.

During Garo’s wake, police officials presented his widow with a total of P63,000 in death benefits.

Garo’s father was also reimbursed the P2,000 he had spent in renting a vehicle that had taken his family from the remote barangay of Baggao to Tuguegarao to attend his son’s funeral.

Garo will be buried beside Aguinaldo’s grave near the gate of the Catholic cemetery in Tuguegarao.