PNP chief awards PRO-7 personnel

CEBU, Philippines - Philippine National Police Chief Jesus Versoza yesterday commended the personnel of the Police Regional Office-7 for making the region, like the rest of the regions in the whole Visayas, among the most peaceful in the whole country during the May 10 elections.

Versoza attended PRO-7’s awarding ceremony yesterday and personally handed over the awards to the deserving police officers, including the stakeholders and community partners who mainly contributed to the success of the elections in Central Visayas.

The highest PNP official thanked the awardees for their most commendable work, which for him, was their being “certain when they are expecting uncertainties.”

“Among the uncertainties from the public were the reliability of the machines, the reliability of the power supply, reliability of security personnel, the moral and spiritual motivation to conduct HOPE (Honest Orderly and Peaceful Elections). The most important thing is the trust that we have built to the people,” Versoza said.

Versoza handed over the Medalya ng Katangi-tanging Gawa or the PNP Outstanding Achievement Medal to PRO-7 director, Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez for the latter’s “operation skills, meticulous planning and precise execution of the plans” that has secured an honest, orderly and peaceful elections, which has been their ultimate goal.

Also awarded with plaques of recognition were Central Command Commander Ralph Villanueva, Cebu-Citizen’s Involvement for Maturation of People Empowerment and Liberation (C-CIMPEL) chairwoman Marilou Chiongbian, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC-7) officer-in-charge Jesus Laureno, and Engr. Magdaleno Baclay, Jr., Senior Science Research Specialist of the Department of Energy-7.

SMART Public Affairs Manager for Visayas-Mindanao Jane Paredes, Fr. Carmelo Diola of the Dilaab Foundation, representatives of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Company, Cebu Citizens Press Council and the PNP-Defense Press Corps also received the award.

For the deserving policemen, Medalya ng Kagitingan award was given to Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, Insp. Joselier De Veyra, SPO4 Ricaredo Ortiz, PO3 Jose Ervin Dumaguit, PO1 Archimedes Olasiman, Sr. Insp. Ricky Neron, PO3 Bernard Calzada, PO2 Alican Guiamlod, Supt. Julian Entoma, Insp. Ariel Arellano and PO1 Julius Ceasar Tampus.

In his inspirational message, Versoza told his men to be proud of what they have done for the success of the first automated elections, despite the doubts cast on them.

“Let us believe what we have done and be proud of what we did before, during, and after the election because we uphold the basic process of democracy. To the men and women of the PNP, let us continue with our institution,” Versoza said.

Versoza also repeatedly thanked the public, in general, for their contribution in one way and another to the success of the elections.

“To the people, let us move forward from here. Let us always see light, be proud that we are Filipinos. Let us not always look at the mistakes that we did or other people did,” he said. — THE FREEMAN