THIRTY police non-commissioned officers and four commissioned officers were awarded for their bravery and exemplary performance in their call of duty.
Chief Superintendent Cesar Binag, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas led the awarding rites held at the provincial police headquarters in Bacolod City Wednesday, May 9.
Awarded with Medalya ng Kadakilaan (Philippine National Police (PNP) Heroism Medal) were Chief Inspector Yolando Lago Jr., head of Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) Western Visayas; Senior Inspector Ryan Villasario, Senior Police Officer 2 (SPO2) Tito Sia, Police Officer 2 (PO2) RC Magpuso, Police Officers 1 (PO1) Marlon Arbuis, Melwin Jems De Jose, Ghenesis Whille Villa, Reno Britanico, Michael De Vera, Alan Sayon, Limuel Jolito, Sam Clyde Guttierez, Neil Amiano, Glenn Samodio, Jeanzon Magada, Melvin Tadina, Jefrey Nesme, Michael Montebon, Jerold Contrivida, and Rannie Suelan, for their heroic acts of conspicuous courage and commitment to the service during the encounter with armed group at Barangay Camayobo in Calatrava, Negros Occidental on May 4.
Also awarded with Medalya ng Kagalingan (PNP Merit Medal) were Inspector Paul Kenneth Magan, and PO1s Walter Relota, Brian Espada, Mark Ervin Relota, Kim Iver Cornel, Junatin Ater, Adonis Gabaran, Rolan Memes, and Raymund Tubilla for demonstrating exemplary, competency, and commendable performance during the said encounter that resulted to the deaths of three persons, including an alleged former member of the New People's Army (NPA) and apprehension of three others.
For Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), Chief Inspector Richie Gohee, head of Police Station 4, and his personnel Police Officers 2 Vicente Pabuaya and Nelgin Bermejo, and Police Officers 3 (PO3) Felipe Moncatar and Eduardo Berio received the PNP Medal of Merit for their invaluable service during the police operation that resulted to the neutralization of Jibbert Villanueva, most wanted person of Police Station 4, and third top most wanted of Police Station 2, who died in the operation in Barangay Villamonte on May 2.
(60-day Bisoc)
Meanwhile, a total of 293 PO1s finished their Basic Internal Security Operations Course (Bisoc) for 60 days.
Public information officer of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office Charmae De Paz, said 141 members of Sandigma Class under Superintendent Robert Lingbawan from the provincial police and 152 members of Class Sanlakas under Chief Inspector Yolando Lago Jr. from Victorias City completed the course in two months.
Top awardees of Class Sandigma were PO1s Ruvic Bering, Yi Jon Ignacio, and Guilbert Romaldon while PO1s Nelson Juanites Jr., Joshua Jake Sarino, and Eugene Mark Labrador topped the Sanlakas Class.
These policemen will be distributed to the different areas in Western Visayas for the deployment of security on the upcoming May 14 elections.
During his message, Binag reiterated to the police officers that part of their accomplishment is the challenge of discipline to take their duties seriously, with the right attitude.
"Do not waste the 110 days you've invested for the training," Binag said.
Before the graduation rites, the police officers demonstrated a presentation on close quarter battle to showcase the skills they've learned from Bisoc and other training.
Binag, together with the other key officials of PRO-6, who witnessed the demonstration of immediate action drills, said that the graduates passed the tests based on the skills they showed.
