Two cops named 'Outstanding City Policemen of 2005'

Two Cebu City policemen were awarded yesterday by the Kiwanis Club of Cebu as outstanding city policemen of 2005. P Sr/Insp. George Ylanan, head of the Vice Control Section and SPO3 Isagani Pogoy of the Theft and Robbery Section were recipients of the award and were rewarded with a plaque of commendation, a PNP badge honoring them as outstanding cops, and P5,000 cash.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña who attended yesterday's awarding ceremony vowed to give them an additional P25,000 which the two will receive during the next Charter Day celebration of the city.

Ylanan was nominated by the PNP beat reporters and Cebu City Police Office director Melvin Gayotin after he arrested SPO4 Efren Quijano in January 2004 and was able to seize from the latter's possession a kilo of shabu.

Ylanan was also a member of the team responsible for the arrest of Cebu City's most notorious robbers Rey Torres and Danny Limotan, and in the shootout of another robbery suspect, Gemar Mansalinog, last year.

This is the first time Ylanan received an award as he is still in his fourth year in service. He served his first year at the Special Action Force in Manila and has served the CCPO for three years now.

Meanwhile, Pogoy was nominated by the Mandaue City Teachers Association and by another reporter. This after he was able to solve in less than 24 hours the murder of Mandaue teacher Joseph Tapayan who was robbed and killed inside his rented room in barangay Mabolo last April 25, 2005.

He was an off-duty policeman during the incident but was able to track down the suspects in Talisay City and arrested them both.

Pogoy was then able to recover the bracelet and necklace which were taken from Tapayan.

He has been in the police service for 19 years.

Kiwanis president Eliodoro Ostia said that Kiwanis started giving awards to city cops 18 years ago. There were already 104 cops who were awarded as Outstanding Cebu City Policemen while 13 were given special awards.

Police Regional Office-7 director Eduardo Gador, who also graced the awarding ceremony, said he hopes that in the future, Kiwanis Club will not only award policemen, but policewomen as well. - Flor Z. Perolina