2 Kalinga cops wounded in pursuing suspect feted

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  -- Two cops who were wounded while pursuing a wanted criminal last week in Kalinga were feted for their bravery in action, gallantry and heroism in serving the Filipino people.

PO2 Mitchell Fojslee Caldengon and Police Officer 1 Leon Galamto received their Medalyang Sugatang Magiting medals from their bedside at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center Wednesday morning from Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Isagani Nerez.

Both were confined at the hospital since Feb. 14.

“Giving them this medal is only a small gesture to show our support and appreciation to their dedication and patriotism,” Nerez said.

Caldengon and Galamto were part of the police operating team comprising of operatives from the Regional Intelligence Division, Cordillera police and the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) that were supposed to serve the warrant of arrest for multiple murder against Willie Sagasag, 42, at Barangay Tulgao, Tinglayan, Kalinga when they were fired upon by the suspect and his cohorts as the police were approaching the house at 3 a.m. on Feb. 13.

Sagasag is one of most wanted persons nationwide who carries a reward of P600,000 for his capture.

He was reportedly able to escape after shooting the two policemen.

Galamto was hit in the right stomach while Caldengon has a gunshot wound to the right arm.

Sagasag’s wife was also wounded with a stray bullet that hit Galamto.

Sagasag was charged for the crime of multiple and frustrated murder, robbery with violence and intimidation of persons and violation of RA 8894 before the sala of Judge Milnar T. Lammawin of the regional trial court  of the Second Judicial Region of Branch 25, Tabuk City.

Another case of frustrated murder was filed against him after the Feb. 13 incident.

Sagasag together with his three companions killed Barangay Captain Eduardo Wandaga and Magdalena Dacay who was hit by stray bullet during a wedding celebration in sitioBalong, Tabuk, Kalinga in 1995. 

The suspect went into hiding and was arrested in April 1998 but escaped jail again.

Again he landed in jail in 2001 and detained in Kalinga Police provincial Office but requested to be transferred to Tuguegarao, Cagayan.

While on the way to Tuguegarao, Sagasag escaped again.

Nerez said the family of the wounded policemen that they will receive help from the Cordillera police while  the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Inc. (PSMBFI) will give a financial assistance amounting to P10,000 each for the two wounded policemen.

Sagasag together with his three companions killed barangay captain Eduardo Wandaga and Magdalena Dacay who was hit by stray bullet during a wedding celebration in Sitio Balong, Tabuk, Kalinga in 1995.

He went into hiding and was arrested on April 1998 but escaped after sensing that he is guilty for the crime of Murder which took effect on January 1999.

Again he landed in jail in 2001 and detained in Kalinga Police provincial Office but requested to be transferred to Tuguegarao, Cagayan where he again escaped while on their way to Tuguegarao on-board a passenger jeep escorted by 2 BJMP personnel when blocked by heavily armed men who forcibly took Sagasag and killed the two jail guards and one civilian.