Taking time off his busy schedule, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada paid his respects to a local police operative who was killed in an anti-drug operation at the Islamic Center last Friday.
Estrada also visited the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center to check on the condition of another policeman who was injured in the operation. He gave the policemen’s families a total of P150,000 in cash assistance.
“Our policemen risk their lives everyday to battle criminals and illegal drugs, a difficult job we often take for granted. I cannot thank them enough for their sacrifices,” Estrada said after visiting the wake of SPO2 Randy Marlon Lebrilla at the Manila Police District headquarters in UN Avenue.
After exchanging a few words with Lebrilla’s brother Ronel, Estrada gave the family P100,000 in cash assistance. He said Lebrilla’s death “will not be in vain” as the city government and the MPD will continue its war against drugs.
“We shall not stop in our campaign to rid our city of drugs. SPO2 Lebrilla gave up his life for this,” Estrada stressed. “Drugs destroy our youth, destroy the family, destroy our nation.”
At Chinese General, Estrada met Lorna Pineda, the wife of PO1 Mark Pineda, 26, who sustained gunshot wounds in the same operation. He offered her P50,000 in aid.
The hospital will also shoulder all the policeman’s medical expenses, including medicines, according to CGHMC president and chief executive officer Dr. James Dy.
“All policemen injured in the line of duty are free of charge in this hospital, including professional fees, medicines, everything,” Dy said. “Policemen’s work is very risky.”
He said this is the hospital’s way of thanking members of the MPD for protecting the city.
Both Lebrilla and Pineda have been recommended for Medalya ng Kadakilaan (PNP Heroism Medal) for their acts of bravery, MPD director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel said.
Lebrilla, 45, was the head of MPD Station 8 Tactical Motorcycle Riders (TMR) that was part of the team that carried out the operation against drug suspect Codeng Macabato at the Islamic Center, who also died in the encounter.
His remains will be flown to their hometown in Sultan Kudarat, according to his brother.