Pangasinan cops cited for exemplary service

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Several Pangasinan police officers and members received medals Monday from the Police Regional Office 1 in La Union for exemplary service.

Chief Superintendent Ramon Gatan, police regional director, led the simple ceremonies honoring the awardees, led by Senior Superintendent Percival Barba, police provincial director of Pangasinan.

PNP Efficiency Medals were given to 45 police officers and men “for eminently meritorious and invaluable services rendered during the safe and speedy rescue of Cedric Romero, the grandson of Mayor Herminio Romero of Mangaldan, Pangasinan, who was kidnapped on March 12, 2009, and the immediate arrest of the mastermind and leader of the kidnap-for-ransom group.”

PNP Commendation Medals were also given to 49 officers and men led by Superintendent Wilson Joseph Lopez, head of the Special Operations Group, “for the exemplary performance of duty rendered during the safe rescue of Julian Rodriguez who was held captive in a secluded house in Urdaneta City and the shooting to death of five members of the dreaded Mostrales kidnap-for-ransom group” last April.

Eighteen officers and men led again by Barba, Superintendents Harris Fama and Eric Noble, were awarded Efficiency Medals “for eminently meritorious and invaluable services rendered during the conduct of surveillance and implementation of an arrest warrant on Joseph Aldan Arriola, a fugitive indicted in the United States for several criminal offenses.”

Another 43 Commendation Medals were awarded to Barba and his men for the rescue of a five-year-old boy who was abducted in Pangasinan.

Gatan told The STAR, “We are very happy to award and give recognition to our personnel who have contributed to our anti-criminality campaign.”