The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced Tuesday it is offering a P500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects involved in a fatal shooting in Cebu City last week that killed a police intelligence officer.

Police Capt. Joel Hernan Deiparine, assistant chief of the Intelligence Section of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Regional Field Unit 7, was killed in the attack. His companion, Executive Master Sgt. Artchel Tero, sustained minor injuries.

CIDG spokesperson Maj. Helen dela Cruz said in a press briefing that the officers were conducting a surveillance operation against a suspected gun-for-hire group on 25 October in Sitio Balaw, Barangay Sudlon 2, Cebu City.

“The officers were riding a motorcycle when one of the suspects suddenly stopped their vehicle and opened fire, catching them in a hail of bullets,” Dela Cruz said.

The spokesperson lamented the brutality of the incident. “This brutal incident shows how deadly and dangerous these suspects are. Imagine, they opened fire on the authorities themselves. All loose firearms must be seized because crimes like this stem from unregulated weapons,” she said, adding that the CIDG strongly condemned the attack as a “cowardly assault.”

CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II personally visited Deiparine’s wake in Cebu City to extend financial and moral support to the family.

In recognition of his service, the PNP posthumously awarded Deiparine the Medalya ng Kadakilaan (PNP Heroism Medal). His widow, Janice Deiparine, received financial assistance under Republic Act 6963 and partial death benefit claims from the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Inc.