Only 3 out of 7 receive Medalya ng Kagalingan

Of the seven men that arrested Ruel Rey Torres, only Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch chief Paul Labra, Talamban Police chief Marlou Martinez, and Vice Control Section chief George Ylanan showed up at the awarding ceremony yesterday morning at the Regional Police Headquarters.

Heavy rains reportedly prevented the rest of the members of the seven-man team from receiving their Medalya ng Kagalingan.

The awarding was done in simple rites at the St. Ignatius Chapel with Department of Labor and Employment-7 regional director Rodolfo Sabulao, as guest speaker, pinning on the medals to the awardees.

Those who failed to make it to the awarding were SPO2 Harvey Gomonit, SPO1 Adonis Dumpit, PO2 Arman Alega, and PO2 Milo Arriola because they thought the ceremony would not push through due to the downpour.

It was already too late when they were informed that the ceremony would go on as scheduled, utilizing the chapel as an alternative venue. Regional officials decided to have the rest of the medals awarded to the four this coming Monday.

What is not clear now, however, is whether the members of the seven-man team would get a spot promotion due to the impressive accomplishment in the arrest of the most wanted personality in the region.

The city council passed a resolution asking President Arroyo that the cops be accorded with a spot promotion while Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña also vowed to make Labra a full-fledged Police Colonel and the rest of the group elevated to a rank higher.

Sought for comment yesterday, Labra said it would have been better if the promotion was not based on the arrest of Torres because it was their job to do so to be able to make Cebu City a better place to live in.

Torres is being linked to at least 15 high profile robbery cases in Metro Cebu believed perpetrated by his group since last year until recently.

There are already five arrest warrants issued against Torres, two of these are non-bailable while authorities expect more cases to be filed against him soon.

The seven-man team arrested Torres in Monte Alegre, Aurora town in Zamboanga del Sur last June 14 after a shootout that resulted to the amputation of his left leg.