Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PLtGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez visited the wake of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Police Captain Joel Deiparine to pay respects to the fallen officer and his family.
Nartatez attended the wake on October 31, offering his and the PNP’s condolences to the bereaved family.
‘On behalf of the entire Philippine National Police, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Police Captain Joel Deiparine. He was a true example of courage and dedication to duty. His passing is a great loss not only to his family but also to the PNP and the community he served,’ Nartatez said in Filipino. Nartatez also assured Deiparine’s family of financial and legal assistance and vowed to bring the suspects to justice.
‘We will not abandon his family. Captain Deiparine served with honor and integrity, and we owe it to him to continue what he stood for: service, sacrifice, and love of country,’ he added.
The late police captain was posthumously awarded the PNP Heroism Medal ‘for courageously standing his ground and valiantly performing his sworn duty, ultimately sacrificing his life in the line of duty,’ according to the PNP. Deiparine, the assistant chief of the CIDG Intelligence Section in Central Visayas, died during a shootout with a gun-for-hire group in Cebu City on October 25, the PNP said. He was accompanied by Executive Master Sgt. Artchel Tero, who sustained a wound to his upper lip in the altercation.
The primary suspect surrendered to the Pasig Police Station on October 29, and four others are now in police custody. One suspect remains at large, the PNP added.