3 cops to receive awards for bravery

Three policemen, who displayed courage and exemplary performance in separate encounters with robbers last year, will be given awards during ceremonies celebrating the 13th founding anniversary of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) today.

NCRPO chief Director Ricardo de Leon will hand over the Medalya ng Kagitingan, the second highest award of the Philippine National Police (PNP), to SPO4 William Dam and SPO1s Noe Saldivar and Quirico Britanico at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

Saldivar joined elements of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF) in an encounter with two robbery-holdup suspects along MacArthur Highway in Marulas, Valenzuela City last Dec. 10 killing one of them. Recovered from the victim were one motorcycle, P150,000 cash, a caliber .9mm automatic pistol and a cellular phone.

Britanico failed a robbery attempt inside a passenger jeepney along Aurora Blvd., in Barangay San Roque, Cubao, Quezon City last Dec. 1. He opened fire when one of the suspects tried to stab him killing him on the spot.

Dam was cited for engaging two robbery-holdup suspects in Purok 03, Lower Bicutan, Taguig also last year.

PO2 Nelson Gonzales, of the Task Force Galugad of the Manila police will be given the same award posthumously. He was stabbed dead by three unidentified suspects while responding to a call of assistance regarding a motorcycle robbery in Barrio Magsaysay, Tondo last Dec. 31. – Non Alquitran