Cop hailed for saving 17 Iligan folk

MANILA, Philippines - A Cavite policeman made a good impression on his in-laws after saving them and 15 others from drowning during the onslaught of tropical storm “Sendong” in Iligan City three weeks ago.

PO2 Randy de la Rea of the Cavite police was in Bayug, Iligan City, the hometown of his wife of four years, to meet her parents when the tragedy struck.

De la Rea managed to swim from the rampaging floodwaters and brought those he rescued to a huge mango tree, which served as their refuge for over six hours from 1 a.m. of Dec. 17 until floodwaters subsided later in the day.

De la Rea was presented to the media yesterday as a hero cop by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome.

He was joined by his wife Ella, who is five months pregnant, and their two-year-old child.

“While floodwaters continued to rise, he brought those he rescued to the top of the mango tree,” Bartolome said.

De la Rea said it was totally dark at that time and he was merely acting on instinct.

“I did not think that I might die. What I only knew was I had to rescue those who were screaming for help. And it felt like there was an invisible hand that helped me carry out that job,” De la Rea said.