ANTIPOLO CITY – A police officer who is highly regarded in his area was shot and killed while leading a buy bust operation the other night in Sitio Maagay, Barangay Inarawan in this city.
Senior Inspector Mark Gil S. Garcia chief of the Special Operations Unit of the Intelligence and Investigation Branch of the Rizal Police Provincial Office (PPO) led a buy-bust operation that was out to arrest suspected pusher William Malana Friday night.
Sensing that he was dealing with a poseur buyer, Malana hurriedly fled the area together with an unidentified cohort, prompting Garcia and his men to give chase.
A shootout ensued that initially led to the death of Malana’s unidentified companion. Malana was able to reach his house where he was eventually neutralized but not after being able to fire his improvised shotgun that hit Garcia’s left thigh.
Police were able to recover Malana’s shotgun and another improvised pistol together with 30 sachets of shabu. Garcia meanwhile was immediately brought to the hospital but expired two hours later.
A graduate of Philippine National Police Academy Batch 2004, Garcia has been known as a successful team leader who is instrumental in leading several operations that netted 65 drug pushers in the province.
PPO director, Sr. Supt. Adriano Enong, Jr. said Garcia’s death will not deter the policemen of the PPO in pursuing all those involved in illegal drugs in Rizal.
“He (Garcia) is the best intelligence officer I have ever known. He will be our motivation/inspiration to attain our vision of a drug-free community,” Enong, said in a statement.
Garcia’s no-nonsense leadership made their police force the second most accomplished PPO in the country in terms of its drive against illegal drugs.
Upon learning about the death of Garcia, messages of sympathies poured in for the family on the decorated policeman through the social media site of the Rizal Police Provincial Office. (Nel B. Andrade)