President Duterte condoles with family of fallen navy

By Ma. Cristina C. Arayata, Philippine News Agency MANILA, Aug. 17 — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) before 5 p.m. Wednesday to condole with the family of PO3 Darwin Espallardo of the Philippine Navy. Photo courtesy of twitter.com A member of the Naval Intelligence Security Group, Espallardo was among the anti-narcotics operatives who died in the recent drug trafficking operation in North Cotabato. They had a firefight with rebels led by a certain Commander Madrox who were apparently involved in large-scale drug trafficking. Espallardo’s remains arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 at around 3:30 p.m. He is survived by wife Cleofe and only-son, 16 year-old Dwyndyll John. Duterte said the government would shoulder all the expenses needed in Espallardo’s burial. Aside from Php 250,000 which Duterte said he would hand in about a week, the government would also shoulder Dwyndyll John’s education until he [...]