Cebu city: A PHP500,000 reward is being offered for information that would lead to the arrest of people behind the killing of a police officer in Cebu City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, at a press briefing held at Camp Crame, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) spokesperson Major Helen Dela Cruz detailed the incident where Captain Joel Hernan Deiparine, assistant chief of the Intelligence Section of the CIDG Regional Field Unit 7, was killed. His companion, Executive Master Sergeant Artchel Tero, sustained minor injuries during a surveillance operation against alleged gun-for-hire suspects at Sitio Balaw in Brgy. Sudlon 2 in Cebu City.

Dela Cruz explained that the two officers were on a motorcycle when they identified and pursued the vehicle of the suspects, who then opened fire. The CIDG condemned the attack, highlighting the inherent risks faced by law enforcement officers in their duty.

‘Talaga deadly and dangerous itong ating mga suspects. Imagine, nag-open fire sila sa authority. Dapat makuha ang lahat ng mga loose fire arms dahil ito nga po ang mga krimen na pwede mangyari (These suspects are really deadly and dangerous. Imagine, they opened fire on the authorities. All loose fire arms should be seized because these are the crimes that can happen),’ Dela Cruz stated.

She further shared that CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II visited Deiparine’s wake in Cebu City on Monday, extending his personal and the unit’s support and financial assistance to the officer’s bereaved family. Deiparine was posthumously awarded the Medalya ng Kadakilaan (PNP Heroism Medal), and special financial assistance under Republic Act 6963 along with a partial payment for a death claim was given to his widow, Janice Deiparine.

‘Rest assured that the CIDG will capture these gun-for-hire suspects to answer for the crime they committed, to serve the justice that PCPT Deiparine deserve, and prevent future crimes,’ Maj. Gen. Morico affirmed.