Policewoman to be honored in PNP anniversary rites

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) is honoring today a former school teacher-turned-policewoman who led a handful of her men in repulsing 250 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who attacked and tried to overrun a police station in Trento town, Agusan del Sur late last month.

No less than President Aquino will award the Medalya ng Katapangan (PNP Medal of Bravery) to Senior Inspector Charity Galvez, Trento police chief, during the PNP’s 110th anniversary celebration at Camp Crame today.

“Galvez was cited for ‘cons-picuous courage and gallantry in action’ when she led 30 members of the town police force in fighting off a large group of NPA dissidents who went on a shooting and looting rampage last July 30,” PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said.

Apart from Galvez, the President will also hand over the same Medalya ng Katapangan to Chief Inspector Allan Umipig, chief of the District Intelligence Operation Unit of the Southern Police District. Umipig figured in an armed encounter with members of a notorious robbery group in Sucat, Parañaque City last June 4.

Posthumous promotion will also be given to the widows of SPO2 Ricky Agwit and SPO2 Jeff Domingo, both of the Ifugao Police Provincial Office.

The two policemen died in a landslide while on a rescue mission to assist distressed foresters of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources at the height of typhoon “Juaning” in the Cordilleras last July 27.

Agwit and Domingo will be posthumously promoted to the next rank of Senior Police Officer 3 in recognition of their selfless sacrifice.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and PNP chief Bacalzo will assist the President in presenting awards to other deserving policemen and police units this year.

Aquino will present the presidential streamer award to the Cordillera Police Regional office as the best region of the year.

The PNP Service Day is being held annually in commemoration of the founding anniversary of the defunct Insular Police, which was established in Aug. 8, 1901 and became the forerunner of the PNP that was created in 1991.

This year’s theme is “Sandaang Taon at Sandekadang Paglilingkod ng Kapulisan Kaagapay ang Sambyananan, Tungo sa Matuwid na Daan.” Tight security is expected inside and around the vicinity of Camp Crame. - Cecille Suerte Felipe