PROV’L CAPITOL, Laoag City, Jan. 30–As fitting tribute to the late Police Officer 2 Omar A. Nacionales of Ilocos Norte and his 43 dead comrades of the Philippine National Police Special Action Forces (SAF), all dubbed as fallen heroes in Jan. 25, 2015 Mamasapano, Maguindanao massacre, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte headed by Gov. Imee Marcos held a wreath-laying ceremony in front of capitol building and a memorial mass at the capitol lobby in Laoag City, this morning, Jan. 30.
Uniformed PNP men and women led by OIC police provincial director Senior Supt. Sterling Blanco, military soldiers, Bureau of Fire Protection personnel, other provincial officials/government employees led by Vice Gov. Angelo Marcos Barba, Muslim community leaders/high priests in Laoag as well as the family and relatives of PO2 Nacionales attended the morning event .
A giant portrait of PO2 Nacionales in tarpaulin was prominently displayed at the facade of the capitol building while the Philippine Flags including the mini-RP flags were all hoisted at half-mast as tribute to the SAF fallen hero from Ilocos Norte.
The big crowd including those people from all walks of life in the sideline were teary-eyed and emotional as a lone bugler played taps for the slain cop’s solemn rites.
While Nacionales’ body was not physically present at the ceremony site, the honor guards fired a 21-gun salute as added homage for him.
In her brief speech, Govermor Marcos extended her condolences and prayers to the bereaved family of Nacionales, a native of Brgy. Escoda, Marcos, Ilocos Norte.
“As a mother of three young men, the same age of our dearly departed Omar, I cannot imagine the tragedy and sadness that you now undergo. It is beyond us the grief that you feel and yet we lend you our very best prayers and share with you the sadness that you undergo,” she said.
She condemned the crime and and that there should be “justice to this tragic waste of talent, courage and bravery.
PO2 Nacionales’ mother, Florencia, deeply mourned for the untimely death of her 27-year-old son whom she described as the hope of their family.
She said that after entering the police service, Omar vowed to support the education of his siblings.
“He was a kind, strict, caring and responsible person,” recounted his widow PO2 Gae Ann Guiniling, also a SAF trooper.
She said that it is a very difficult time for their family as she had not yet coped with the early demise of their infant twins July last year.
From the provincial capitol after the event, the family left for Luna, La Union, where his remains will be buried beside their twin babies’ grave as per wish by his widow Gen Ann.
Aside from the INPPO mutual aid, PGIN through the governor gave a financial assistance to the bereaved family.#(pgin-cmo)
