A posthumous award, the “Medalya ng Kadakilaan,” was presented to the family of Police Staff Sergeant Orvin Seth Felicio, a Cebu policeman who was tragically shot dead by a 16-year-old boy in Mandaue City. The award was handed over by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rommel Francisco Barbil during his visit to Felicio’s wake at the Sacred Heart Chapel in Barangay Cogon Ramos, Cebu City.
In addition to presenting the award, General Barbil provided assistance to Felicio’s family and personally extended his condolences. Although he did not give interviews to the media, Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office 7, relayed that General Barbil emphasized the importance of implementing security measures during operations, both on and off duty.
The interment of Police Staff Sergeant Felicio is scheduled for Saturday, August 3, 2024.
Incident Overview
The tragic incident occurred around midnight on July 27, 2024, on P. Remedio Street, Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City. Felicio, who was off duty at the time, had gone to the area to fetch his wife from work. While there, he noticed barangay tanods (village watchmen) enforcing the curfew ordinance on minors.
When the watchmen pursued a minor violating the curfew, the boy ran away. Felicio identified himself as a police officer and instructed the boy to go home. Instead, the boy allegedly gave Felicio a contemptuous look. As Felicio was parking his motorcycle to talk further, the boy pulled out a gun, shot Felicio twice—once in the head and once in the right arm—and fled. The suspect later surrendered to the authorities, though the caliber .38 weapon used was not recovered, as the boy claimed to have thrown it away.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Mercy Villaro, MCPO spokesperson, indicated that the minor was a member of the gang “Crips” and often carried a firearm at night while with friends. The suspect has since been turned over to the Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) facility of the Mandaue City Social Welfare Services. The MCPO is determined to pursue a murder case against the minor.
Felicio, a resident of Consolacion town in north Cebu Province, joined the Philippine National Police in 2008 and served at the Intelligence Unit of the MCPO since then.