Top PNPA graduate not new to public service

MANILA, Philippines - Inspector Marjorie Samson, the valedictorian of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA)’s batch 2012, is ready and excited to serve her family and the community with integrity.

Samson’s achievement in the male-dominated world of the PNPA came during the celebration of Women’s Month and she is thankful to the PNPA with director Senior Superintendent Nestor Fajura for making sure that the men and women in the academy were given equal opportunity to do their best and excel.

“Men and women should be partners in community development,” Samson pointed out in an interview with The STAR shortly after taking her oath as a PNPA alumna. “There’s no difference between men and women as long as you have the heart to serve the community.”

Samson is one of the 220 PNPA cadets whom President Aquino called on to remain professional and be known for sacrifices.

“In behalf of my batch, we are willing to adhere to the code of public service. We are ready to serve our family and the community with integrity,” Samson said. “First thing is to live a life that is coherent on value especially in decision-making.”

Samson said President Aquino’s call would serve as a challenge to them “to be part of the solution to the problem and become a hope to the Filipino people and humanity.”

“We take it (the President’s call) as a challenge to face reality. We admit that we are idealistic here inside the academy, outside is the real world but I will be guided by principle and discipline,” Samson said. “We are ready to take constructive criticisms to improve our service.”

Samson is one of the 14 PNPA graduates joining the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). Of the 220 PNP graduates in 2012, 185 members with ranks of police inspector will be joining the Philippine National Police (PNP) and 21 with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Public service is not new to her, as Samson said before she entered the academy, as she had served as Sangguniang Kabataan chair and barangay councilor.

Samson said her topping the PNPA Sinagtala Class of 2012 is one of the best gifts she could give to her family, especially to her father Antonio, a retired seaman, and mother Florencia, a retired accountant.

She said her family was not surprised by her call about being the class valedictorian since she learned that their mayor and barangay captain, who received an invitation from the PNPA, had made the announcement several days earlier.

Samson, 25, is the third female cadet who topped the PNPA graduating class since the schooling for the country’s officers became a four-year-course in 2004.

The two others are Roan Marie Dinlo Bascugin of Alfonso, Cavite (Class 2009) and Aleli Buaquen of Baguio City (Class 2011).

The PNPA, located in Camp Castañeda, is an education and training institution for future officers who want to be in the police, fire and jail services.

Samson came from a simple family in Tagaytay City and is the youngest and only daughter among four children.

When asked why she chose BJMP and not the BFP or PNP, Samson said there are a lot of opportunities to help in the jail department.

“When I entered the academy, I initially thought I will be a police officer, but along the way, I learned that jail is considered a community, composed of people, and I think that I can help a lot of people there,” Samson added.