By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has assured full assistance to the families of four police officers killed in a road crash in Misamis Occidental.
“This incident shows the risk that your police face every day when they go out of their homes to fulfill their oath,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement Monday, expressing sympathy to the victims’ families and loved ones.
“We, however, assure a strong support system to all our personnel,” he added.
Initial investigation showed that four police officers and a civilian died after their patrol vehicle fell off a cliff in Don Victoriano on Friday.
The vehicle had been assigned to secure event organizers and was carrying seven personnel from the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company and three civilian employees of the Provincial Tourism Office.
Nartatez said the PNP will also shoulder the medical expenses of the injured officers and provide support to the children of those who died.
He also directed police commanders to ensure proper maintenance of all police vehicles to guarantee the roadworthiness of PNP mobility assets.
Proper vehicle maintenance, he said, ensures reliable operational response and helps prevent safety-related road incidents. (PNA)
