NCRPO honors 98 cops

Four policemen killed in action and eight others wounded in the line of duty were among the 98 police officers inducted yesterday to the "Kuya Ko 2 Honor Roll" of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO).

Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. honored the inductees to the NCRPO Hall of Fame for their courage and valor worthy of emulation during recognition day ceremonies at the Western Police District (WPD) headquarters in Manila.

Metro police chief Director Ricardo de Leon said the 98 officers from the various police districts in Metro Manila have shown extra-ordinary integrity, honesty and dedication to duty.

The honor roll project started last April, aimed at motivating personnel to reform and change their attitude toward public service and to value honesty and integrity which are the very essence of community policing. It also intends to recognize the heroic deeds of police officers who risk their lives to protect the citizenry.

The latest batch of inductees include SPO2 Charlito Corpuz, the Mandaluyong City officer who neutralized three robbery suspects inside an aircon bus two weeks ago.

"These officers have shown extra-ordinary courage. They were awarded medals for their heroic deeds and were also given cash incentives by the PNP and benefactors of the NCRPO, particularly the Filipino-Chinese community and other socio-civic organizations," De Leon said.

During the rites, De Leon recommended the induction into the honor roll eleven members of the WPD, namely: Senior Inspector Mauro Pereyra; Senior Inspector Rizalino Morales; Senior Inspector Rodolfo Jamoralin; SPO3 Ernesto Reyes; PO3 Robert Zapata; PO3 Raul Baldomar; PO3 Mike Ongpauco; PO1 Christopher David; PO1 John David; PO1 Edchelle Ayon, and PO1 Ariel Iringan.

These officers were bestowed the Medalya ng Kagalingan for their immediate response to a distress call and engaged three robbers in a gunbattle in Sta. Cruz last Aug. 9. Two of the suspects were killed and a third was arrested.

"The team contributed immensely to the eradication of lawless elements of our society, earning prestige not only for the police and the NCRPO, but the entire PNP," said De Leon, adding that the tenacity displayed by the Manila cops should be emulated by other officers in Metro Manila.