Philippine National Police chief, Nicanor Bartolome, yesterday ordered the Police Regional Office-6 and the Bacolod City Police to identify and arrest the suspects who shot and killed a police drug operative in the presence of his daughter in Bacolod City at about 7 a.m. Thursday.

Bartolome went to the wake for slain Police Officer 3 Rolando Malate at the Rolling Hills Memorial Chapels in Bacolod City and met with the late policeman’s family and gave them financial support.

Malate, 43, of Celine Homes Subdivision in Brgy. Estefania, Bacolod had brought his children Ramon Jr., 15, and Hannah, 14, to Tay Tung High School and was on his way to a coffee shop at the junction of Hernaez and Jovita streets, near the school with his younger daughter, Alexa, 10, when one of two men riding in tandem on a motorcycle shot him at close range while he was about to alight from his car.

“I want the results (of the investigation) finished, and I assured the family (of Malate) that I am going to follow up this case and make sure that this is resolved,” Bartolome said.

“I also instructed them to get as much information they need and be careful while conducting the investigation as they may miss important details,” he also said.

PRO-6 Director Chief Supt. Cepriano Querol assured that the investigation on the killing of Malate, who, he said, had been instrumental in the arrest of several drug personalities in Bacolod, will be finished soon and the perpetrators identified.

Aside from Malate, other members of the City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Task Force are also receiving death threats, their team leader, Senior Insp. Joemarie Occeño, said.

Querol said the CAIDTSOG should be extra careful and, if possible, change their routines. He said threats are part of their profession but these should not be taken for granted.

He also said they are processing the posthumous award for Malate and stressed that his death will not hinder the BCPO’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

MOURNING WIFE, CHILDREN

Emalyn Malate, the wife of the slain policeman, said the police should arrest whoever assassinated her husband because they might also kill other policemen.

Mrs. Malate said the last time she talked with her husband was on Wednesday night and added that he did not deserve to die this way because he was not a bad policeman and had not wronged anyone.

She also thanked Bartolome for the support he gave them and expressed confidence in the ongoing investigation being undertaken by the “Task Force Malate” headed by City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz.

She also disclosed that they may consult a psychiatrist because her daughter, Alexa, had been traumatized and could hardly sleep after seeing her father killed.

Malate’s daughter, Hannah, said her sister would cry when she sees their father’s picture.

Until now, she said, they can hardly believe that this tragedy happened to their family.

Malate, who sustained two gunshot wounds on the neck and four on the chest, was rushed to the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center, where he died while being treated, at about 11 a.m. Thursday.*APN

back to top