TACLOBAN CITY – Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. cited the heroism of Police Patrolman Mark Monge who was killed in an encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA) in San Jose de Buan, Samar Saturday, July 16.
Abalos, who visited the wake of the slain cop in Barangay Pawing, Palo, Leyte Friday, July 22, extended financial assistance to his bereaved family.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) had earlier conferred a posthumous Distinguished Conduct Medal (Medalya ng Kadakilaan) to Monge.
His family will receive P500,000 death benefit from the President’s Social Fund, P256,345.98 Special Financial Assistance and P107,462.34 as Commutation of Accumulated Leave from the PNP; P445,020 gratuity from the National Police Commission (Napolcom); and P100,000 Pamanang Lingkod ng Bayan from the Civil Service Commission.
Police Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., PNP officer-in-charge, also gave P200,000 financial assistance. A P100,000 aid was given by Police Regional Office-8 (Eastern Visayas) director Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac to Monge’s family.
The neophyte cop, a member of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-8, was conducting a humanitarian activity with his colleagues when they chanced upon at least 10 NPA rebels in the boundaries of Barangay San Nicolas in San Jose de Buan and Barangay Mabuhay in Gandara, Samar.