Brave, wounded WPD cop cited

A Manila policeman who almost lost his life while trying to arrest a murder suspect was recently cited by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for his "exemplary efficiency, loyalty and devotion to duty."

SPO1 Virgo Villareal, investigator of the homicide section of the Western Police District, received the PNP medals for efficiency and wounded personnel from National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Deputy Director General Edgar Galvante during a flag raising ceremony held at the NCRPO headquarters.

Villareal was cited for the arrest of Raymundo Endaya, suspect in the killing of Ben Magallanes on May 25 in Sampaloc, Manila.

Records showed that Villareal, as officer-on- case, was able to identify the suspect and immediately moved to effect his arrest the following day. However, suspect Endaya, with intent to elude the arresting officer, hit the cop on the side of his face with a lead pipe.

Though wounded, Villareal refrained from shooting the suspect and managed to subdue and arrest him with his bare hands.

Doctors who treated the wounded cop claimed the injury he received could have been fatal had it been an inch higher.

Villareal’s colleagues at the WPD attested to his dedication to duty and his resolve to arrest a suspect unharmed and bring him to the bar of justice.

They said Villareal, who is a martial arts expert, abhors the use of firearms in arresting a suspect. "There are many instances when he was ganged up on by friends and relatives of a suspect he was arresting, but he always manage to bring to the headquarters the criminal unharmed."

During the awarding ceremony, eight Caloocan City policemen led by Superintendent Rosendo Franco were also awarded Commendation Medals for the arrest of seven "Hi-Octane" holdup gang members and the seizure of several firearms and ammunition. – Nestor Etolle