NPD to set up scholarship fund for slain newsman’s kids

The Northern Police District (NPD) is providing a scholarship trust fund for the five children of the late newsman Alberto Orsolino, who was ambushed by two motorcycle-riding assassins Tuesday last week in Caloocan City.

This was announced by NPD director Chief Superintendent Leopondo Bataoil at the necrological services for the slain reporter of tabloid Saksi held at the National Press Club (NPC) Tuesday night in Intramuros, Manila.

Bataoil said the NPD headquarters shall sponsor the schooling of Orsolino’s eldest son, Albert Jr., 12. The Malabon Police Station will sponsor Almar’s, 10; the Caloocan Police Station Aliza’s, 7; Navotas Police Station Alvin’s, 4; and Valenzuela Police Station Aldrich’s, 2, the youngest.

The NPD chief said a memorandum of agreement (MOA) has been set to be forged between them and the National Press Club (NPC) on June 5, during the opening of classes. The MOA shall cover the tuition for elementary, high school and college education of Orsolino’s five children.

"The trust fund will be binding through the years, even after our respective tours of duty," Bataoil clarified.

The official said the initial funding will come from the voluntary contributions of NPD cops which will eventually be subsidized by legitimate fund-raising initiatives of the NPD.

Bataoil also announced that today, Thursday, a final case conference by Task Force Orsolino headed by Caloocan City police chief Senior Superintendent Geronimo Reside will be held at the Caloocan City Police Station with National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director General Vidal Querol in attendance.

The NPD director said murder charges will be filed against jail guards JO2 Ramon Rivera alias "Bodik" of the Cainta, BJMP, the alleged mastermind; JO2 Reynaldo Nicolas of the Navotas Municipal Jail, accomplice and three John Does.

Other details will be presented during the final case conference which will be covered by media and attended by representatives of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), the NPC, the Crame-based PNP Press Corps and other local media organizations.

Orsolino was buried yesterday morning in simple rites at the Malabon Public Cemetery.