Memory Trees project honors slain cop
MANAOAG—A year after a policeman was killed in an armed encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA) elements in San Nicolas town, his widow launched a community-based tree planting project in Barangay Cabanbanan here on July 28 to honor his memory.
Katrina Tamondong, widow of Police Officer 2 Aries Tamondong of the Regional Public Safety Battalion of Region 1 (RPSB1), who hailed from Barangay Cabanbanan, Manaoag town, led the “Memory Trees” through project ARIES launch.
Memory trees for slain husband
ARIES stands for “Add a tree for a Responsible Involvement in the community for Environmental Solution”.
Aries was shot dead by NPA elements in San Nicolas on July 28, 2017.
Katrina said in her Facebook post that it is a community-based project with the barangay council headed by Barangay Captain Jim Aquino, Sangguniang Kabataan officials led by Chairman Domingo Salindong, Barangay Health Workers, Civilian Volunteer organizations, Manaoag National High School Technology and Live Education teachers, police personnel under the 104th Maneuver Company led by Senior Police Officer 3 Joseph Cascolan and the Tamondong family.
They planted the seedlings in different areas in their barangay.
Katrina said she committed to provide 100 tree seedlings for this community-based project.
They have planted 110 mahogany, 20 each narra and Gmelina trees along the Aloragat River which is near Tamondong’s residence to make sure she can monitor the state of the trees daily.
She said she decided to launch the project to make the first anniversary meaningful because her husband was a tree lover.
“Even if it still hurts me, I can feel he is now happy in heaven,” Katrina said about the project for her departed husband.
Before his death, Aries phoned her to check on them before he set off to the mountain for a patrol assignment. His team was ambushed by NPA elements.
Katrina, a teacher in Manaoag National High School and Aries have four children.
Ma Rowena Daguio, a FB friend, posted, “Kuya Aries will never be forgotten by people from your place. He must be so proud of you. Keep fighting. God bless.” (With report from EFG)
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