Former Army Corporal Winston Ragos, who was shot dead by a policeman in Quezon City near a checkpoint during the coronavirus quarantine period was given full military honors when he was buried on Sunday at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes’ Cemetery) in Taguig City.
According to Col. Ramon Zagala, Cpl. Ragos was “given military honors fitting for a former soldier who served his country.”
Ragos was also given a gun salute, a tribute by the Philippine Army in honor of his various contribution to his branch of service.
Present during the burial ceremony were Ragos’ immediate family and a handful of personnel of the Philippine Army, led by Army Chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay and Col. Potenciano Camba, the organization’s chief for personnel.
Zagala said Ragos’ remains were brought from St. Eldridge Funeral, Quezon City to mortuary 3 at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
“Today we bring Cpl. Ragos to his final resting place. His death has raised awareness on the plight of our soldiers suffering from PTSD. The Philippine Army will revitalize programs on trauma, combat stress and PTSD to be able to sustain the wellness of our troops both active and retired,” said Gapay.
The 34-year-old Ragos was killed on Wednesday by Police Master Sgt. Daniel Florendo Jr. near a quarantine checkpoint in Barangay Pasong Putik after an altercation with police trainees.
A video clip that went viral on social media showed Florendo pointing his firearm at Ragos, as he ordered the former soldier to drop to the ground. Several witnesses were heard on the background telling the cops not to shoot the man who appeared to be unarmed.
During the investigation, police said Ragos was carrying a caliber .38 inside his bag, but witnesses said that Ragos, who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, was unarmed during the incident.
Florendo has been placed under the custody of the Quezon City police, as reported by Philippine National Police chief Dir. Archie Gamboa.
The National Police Commission has launched an investigation while the Philippine Army sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the fatal shooting.
“Sana magkaroon ng impartial investigation…hihintayin natin ang resulta sa dapat gawin,” Zagala said.(We hope for an impartial investigation. We will wait for the result.)
While in the military service, Ragos was given recognition for courageously defending his detachment from being overrun by attacking New People’s Army rebels in Albay.
Ragos was given a complete disability discharge (CDD) in 2017 from the military service after he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“What happened to Cpl. Ragos was an unfortunate, but avoidable event. Let his death serve as an awakening on the plight of other soldiers who are being plagued by the traumas of war,” Gapay said.
He also issued an order to identify retired soldiers suffering from the same conditions as Ragos to provide them appropriate assistance.
