DILG honors two outstanding cops

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. honored two policemen yesterday for "acts displaying courage and genuine dedication to duty."

Lina said PO2 Florencio Sarmiento was on his way to take breakfast last Saturday when he chanced upon a man grabbing the necklace of a jeepney passenger in Aurora Boulevard.

Although off-duty, Sarmiento reportedly accosted the suspect, identified as Avelino Palimera, after promptly identifying himself as a police officer. The suspect was arrested and the stolen necklace worth P3,000 was returned to its owner, Jennifer Perez.

Also honored by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was Inspector Joseph Marcos of the Station 10 of the Central Police District (CPD), who was stabbed twice when he collared a robber last week.

Lina honored Sarmiento and Marcos during the third anniversay of his radio program "Sagot ko ‘Yan", which he co-hosts with National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Ricardo De Leon over radio station dzMM.

"It is truly an honor to mark the third year anniversary of the "Sagot Ko ‘Yan" program with the inauguration of these two courageous and dedicated true "Kuya’s sa Kalye" into the NCRPO Hall of Fame," Lina said.

Sarmiento and Marcos joined 36 other policemen in the Kuya ko 2 Honor Roll of the NCRPO.

"These two awardees were already off-duty when they answered, without hesitation, a call for help from our constituents. This is an instinct that should be emulated by all PNP personnel," De Leon said. — Non Alquitran