Rizal Police Provincial Office (RPPO), Taytay, Rizal
August 24, 2016

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte visited the wake of S/Insp. Mark Gil Garcia who was killed during a buy-bust operation at Sitio Maagay, Barangay Inarawan in Antipolo City on the evening of August 19, 2016.

Before taking his time to look over the coffin clad with a Philippine flag, the President condoled the wife, Judy Garcia, of the 37-year-old slain police officer. Judy was accompanied by Belinda De Leon, mother of the killed law enforcer, and his three children — eleven-year-old Jemima Margaret, seven-year-old Jana Mikaela, and a two-month-old baby boy.

According to Garcia’s mother, the police officer was declared dead at the Antipolo District Hospital after being shot and badly wounded by the drug suspects. Garcia was the head of the Special Operations Unit at the Rizal Police Provincial Office. He was in the service since 2004.

“I lose about two policemen a day nationwide. I am very, very sad because whether we like or not, we have to die and fight the drug menace of this country,” President Duterte said in a press briefing after the wake visit.

He added that the Garcia family would receive a total of PhP 250,000 from his social fund, and PhP 20,000 immediate cash. Moreover, he said that the widows of all the slain policemen and military personnel would automatically be enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

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