By Romie A. Evangelista

Police authorities yesterday formed a task force to look into the death of a medal of valor awardee whose decomposing body was found in a dump in Rodriguez, Rizal, last March 16.

National Police Chief Jesus Verzosa ordered a full probe of the killing of PO2 Jamaron Sandag, a former member of the Aviation Security Group, who obtained the Medalya ng Kagitingan (equivalent to Medal of Valor in the military) and earned the moniker “Liberator of Siocon” for defending the Siocon Municipal Station in 2003 against Moro rebels and Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Police said he was shot in the head; near his body was a pillow marked Taguig Plaza Apartelle, where he was allegedly held hostage by still unidentified men last Feb. 25.

Camp Crame said the crime laboratory through Senior Insp. Dindo Herrera, forensics staff, was only able to confirm Sandag’s identity on Thursday.

Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome, spokesman, said DNA examination was difficult and fingerprinting was no longer possible.

“He was identified through his dental records,” he said.

Verzosa formed task group Sandag headed by Senior Supt. Isagani Nerez, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for Metro Manila.

Sandag’s body surfaced 19 days after he was reported being held hostage by armed men in a Taguig lodging house in West Bicutan.

Southern Police District agents on Feb. 25 were unable to find him in a rescue operation.

Sandag’s wife has been notified and documentation is being completed to for the turnover of his remains.