Francisco, 34, was among the Sta. Rosa cops assigned to rescue Daiselyn Popes who was abducted by suspect Aldy Mendez amid reports she was taken to a remote hut in Barangay Buliran in San Antonio.
A police report said that the cops had already surrounded the hut but Mendez fired at them. When the suspect ran out of bullets, Francisco, armed with a 9 mm. Berrata, approached the hut but was confronted by Mendez who was armed with a bolo.
Seeing the suspect charging towards him, Francisco tried to shoot but his gun jammed. The policeman was hacked to death by Mendez who, however, was shot dead by the other policemen, the report said.
Francisco left behind his wife Jo-ann and two children, Jana Mikaela and Mark Jayden.
“He was a good and a very dedicated policeman. He should have not died if his gun did not jam”, said PO3 Philip Zafra, a first cousin of Francisco.
During the Eulogy, Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Director PSSupt Antonio Yarra extolled Francisco “for giving his life to save a victim of crime”.
“Francisco deserves to be honored, he was a real good policeman. He served well our country, the PNP and his family”, said Yarra.
Cabanatuan City’s chief of police PSupt Ponciano Zafra is a cousin of Francisco.
