Flags at all Valenzuela City Government facilities were flown at half-staff starting today, May 24, as the city mourns the loss of PO3 Noel Cabanglan, a local police officer under the Special Drug Enforcement Unit.

Cabanglan was shot dead during a buy bust operation in Barangay Ugong yesterday.

Earlier this April, the local government launched Tokhang-on-Wheels, a non-bloody effort to convince drug personalities to surrender. The project which is under the city's comprehensive anti-drug support program, the VC Cares Plus, and the local Philippine National Police's (PNP) campaign, Valenzuelano, Ayaw sa Droga (VAD) peacefully brings community caravan of medical and legal services to the neighborhood of the surrenderees. A few days ago, a total of 142 surrenderees graduated from city-funded six months rehabilitation program, opening a wide door of new opportunities for them.

Therefore, violent attack on a law enforcer in the performance of his duty, to the local government, comes as a sad blow.

Mayor REX Gatchalian assured the bereaved family of the victim that the local government will shoulder all the expenses on the funeral and burial services. The City will also provide other assistance, such as possible employment for the wife and scholarship fund for their children.

The gunman is still being pursued while four suspects are already at the hands of the local police.

Valenzuela City Police chief, PSSUPT Ronaldo Mendoza stressed that they will leave no stone unturned to find the gunman to bring him to justice.