By Villamor Visaya
VILLAVERDE, Nueva Vizcaya, Feb. 2 (PNA) — Police Officer 2 Joel Dulnuan has been a revered hero to his countrymen as one of the 44 Special Action Force members who were killed in an operation in Mamapasano, Maguindanao.
Dying from an encounter to secure peace, relatives said his heroics started years ago, when Dulnuan toiled from scratch to survive and finish schooling.
”For us, he has been a hero ever since when he made his way to study in college, “ his mother Carmen Dulnuan said.
Dulnuan was once a janitor and later a crew at a food chain to sustain his criminology studies at the University of Baguio. He eventually finished the course in 2004, his mother said.
Mila Pinohan, Joel’s aunt, said she has been proud of her nephew’s accomplishment as a working student who finished college and eventually land a position at the elite Special Action Force.
“What is saddening, though, is he went there for peace and yet they were killed,” she lamented.
The remains of the slain SAF policeman arrived on Saturday in his hometown in Ocupan village here amid the grief of relatives and friends. (PNA)