‘Benguet son’ arrests gov’s killer; cited

CAMP CRAME, Quezon City – Three police personnel of the Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office, one of them from Benguet recently received the prestigious Medalya ng Kagitingan award from PNP Chief PGen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. here during flag raising ceremony and awarding of PNP personnel with significant accomplishments.  
    The awardees:  Col. Robert S. Daculan, provincial director of the Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office who hails from Benguet, along with Lt. Col. Christopher O. Adiong and Cpl. Arafat B. Unte was commended by Gen. Azurin and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Andres C. Centino who was guest of honor and speaker. 
    Col. Daculan and his men were called to Camp Crame to receive their awards for their exceptional bravery in arresting the murder suspects in the ambush Lanao del Sur Gov, Mamintal A. Adiong, Jr. at barangay Delimbayan, Maguing town on February 17, 2023.
    Unidentified gunmen took by surprise the convoy of Gov. Adiong while he was on his way to Wao town in Lanao del Sur.
    The governor Adiong, along with two others, was wounded but four of his security escorts died in the ambush.
Arrest warrants that were successfully served by Daculan and his team were issued against the suspects for criminal complaints of four counts of murder, three counts of frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder.
    Gen. Azurin cited the three PNP men for “having gone above and beyond the call of duty to serve and protect the entire province”. Daculan directly supervised the joint law enforcement operation in pursuing the suspects in the ambush.

The suspects who were arrested on March 10, 2023 at Kalilangan, Bukidnon were identified as Palawan Salem Macalbo who had several standing warrants for murder and frustrated murder, Nagac Dimatingkal Baratomo and Amirodin Dimatingcal Mandoc.