Rama mulls reward for CCPO, three cops in foiled mall heist

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is mulling the giving of a P50,000 cash reward for each of the three policemen who were awarded and cited in the PNP Headquarters in Manila for their exemplary work in responding to a robbery alarm inside a mall here and got injured in the line of duty.

Rama said he also wants to give P200,000 to the Cebu City Police Office which may be used for projects or programs that will equip them more in keeping the peace and order in Cebu City.

He said he will put the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council in charge of looking where to charge the needed funds for the reward.

Rama deems it just right to reward the cops because their bravery and heroism have caught national attention.

The three police personnel recently awarded were Police Officers 2 Elrich Jourdin Catacutan, Roy Ceniza and Ernesto Silva, Jr. They were assigned to the Mobile Patrol Group of CCPO.

Catacutan received the Most Outstanding Police Non-Commissioned Officer award while Ceniza and Silva received special citations during the PNP Recognition Day at Camp Crame early this month.

They were the policemen who responded to a robbery in September last year by a group of robbers who targeted a bank teller inside Robinson’s Place.

Catacutan and Ceniza got injured in the incident, but also killed three of the robbers. They also injured the leader of the gang, Dionisio Cabatingan alias Junjun Cabando, who was recently arrested.

The three policemen also received cash incentives and rewards from other people and institutions that recognized their heroism.

Rama also said earlier that he is mulling an increase in the allowance of all Cebu City Police personnel. The proposal is being studied.

All police personnel receive a P2,000 monthly allowance from the city government.  - THE FREEMAN