Gamboa pays last respects to “hero” cop killed in Misamis Oriental grenade blast

December 1, 2019

The officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday visited the wake of the policeman who died protecting students of Intao Community College in Misamis Oriental after a man lobbed a grenade last week.

Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa awarded the "Medalya ng Katapangan" (Medal of Bravery) to cop, Police Senior Master Sergeant Jason Magno.

In a statement, PNP said Magno made the supreme sacrifice to save the lives of innocent civilians in Misamis Oriental.

Gamboa paid his respects and extended sympathies and assistance to the bereaved family of Magno during his visit to the wake of the hero cop.

Magno is a trained Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist who was among first responders at the scene when a man, armed with a knife and grenade, ran amok and barged inside the school grounds.

"He did not die in vain. His death gave new meaning to undying line in the PNP Hymn 'ihandog ang iisang buhay' (sacrifice own life) which is exactly what Magno did," Gamboa said.

"Magno, Balido and countless other police heroes who came before them, are imbued with the same patriotism of Bonifacio and our national heroes who died for our country,” he added.

The PNP OIC also went to the hospital to visit the policewoman who got injured on the same incident and the one who neutralized the suspect.

Gamboa awarded the "Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting" (PNP Wounded Personnel Medal) to Police Senior Master Sergeant Alice Balido.

He lauded her heroic deed of risking her life to save lives of innocent civilians, a feat worthy of emulation by her peers in the police service.

Last November 28, a total of 16 people were injured, including Balido after a suspect who has a personal grudge against a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) employee in the area lobbed a grenade when police officers tried to stop him from making a scene in the area.

Magno and Balido both tried to contain the effects of a grenade lobbed by the suspect inside the campus of Initao College by absorbing the blast with their own bodies to protect innocent students from harm.

In a press briefing last week, Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said Magno’s family would receive death benefits which include P250,000 from the Presidents Social Fund; P141,000 to P181,000 Special Financial Assistance (SFA) from PNP; burial benefits worth P50,000; and P200,000 gratuity from National Police Commission (Napolcom).

“As a member of the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund his family may also be entitled to death insurance,” said Banac.

These death benefits are on top of the estimated P15,000 monthly lifetime pension from the PNP and roughly the same amount of pension for five years from the Napolcom. Ella Dionisio/DMS