COPS awardees honored at Palace

MANILA, Philippines – Four senior officers and six non-commissioned police personnel were chosen awardees of the Search for the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS) and honored at ceremonies in Malacañang last week.

The awardees were Police Superintendent Dionardo Carlos, Police Superintendent Eliseo Cruz, Police Chief Inspector Alden Delvo, Police Superintendent Eric Noble, Senior Police Officer 1 Gaudencio Callo, Senior Police Officer 4 Baltazar Carillo, Police Officer 3 Manuela Cueto, Police Officer 3 Arturo Melchor, Jr., Senior Police Officer 2 Danilo Nazareno, and Police Officer 2 Sherill Ybañez.

Each awardee received a trophy and a P250,000 cash prize from the Metrobank Foundation.

During her speech, President Arroyo instructed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa to prepare a budget proposal for the recruitment of 10,000 new cops who will patrol the streets to increase police visibility in order to deter crime.

“It is important for our citizens to feel safe and secure in their houses and neighborhoods,” Arroyo said, adding that the recruitment plan is in response to challenges to peace and order brought about by the global economic crisis.

Now on its seventh year, the Search for COPS is an annual project implemented by the Metrobank Foundation, PSBank, and the Rotary Club of New Manila East in coordination with the PNP. The award, which aims to recognize the shared responsibility of the police and the community, is given to exemplary men and women of the police force who are able to work with the community in preventing and solving crime.

 “PSBank is privileged to be part of this noteworthy program that inspires change. The Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service is a program that is close to our hearts because it upholds the virtues that we also work hard to live up to everyday – integrity, professionalism, and dedication,” PSBank president Pascual M. Garcia III said.

 “There are countless policemen and women who silently yet consistently practice the virtues of integrity, honesty, and selfless service every day. They never get tired of doing good even if no one is watching, even if no one knows the great difference they make in our lives. They choose to follow that inner voice that helps them to be upright models and guardians of the communities they serve,” Garcia added.

This year, the Search for COPS received 109 nominations nationwide, the highest turnout in its history. The nominees went through a rigorous selection process that included documentation of achievements, background check, and panel interview by a distinguished board of judges representing various sectors of society. After the top 10 finalists were chosen, their names were cleared by concerned government agencies to ensure that only the police force’s best were chosen as COPS awardees.

The 2009 Search for COPS final board of judges, chaired by Supreme Court Associate Justice Renato Corona, included Masbate Rep. Rizalina Lanete; Cainta, Rizal Mayor Ramon Ilagan; Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Alfonso Uy; Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila president Adel Tamano; Inquirer columnist Ramon Farolan Jr.; 1997 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Community Leadership Sr. Eva Fidela C. Maamo; and Advertising Board of the Philippines chair Charmaine Canillas.

Justice Corona admitted that his perception of the police changed after his interaction with the COPS finalists. “It was gratifying to realize that there are still so many police officers who are very idealistic, honorable, and imbued with a deep love of country,” he said.

Another judge, Sr. Eva Fidela Maamo, president of the Foundation of Our Lady of Peace, said that the police rescued her father when he was kidnapped in the 1970s. “What touched me the most was that the police asked my mother to take care of their families in case they die during the rescue,” she said. Fortunately, the policemen successfully intercepted the kidnappers and rescued Sr. Eva’s father.