NCRPO honors 12 honest cops

Twelve policemen headed by Superintendent Benigno Durana, Cubao Police Station commander, were inducted yesterday by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. into the National Capital Region Police Office’s (NCRPO) "Kuya Ko 2! Honor Roll" for their various accomplishments in the field of law enforcement.

Aside from Durana, other inductees were SPO4 Romulo Terrado, also of the Cubao police station; Senior Inspector Frederick Obar, of Kamuning police station; SPO4 Arsenio Mangulabnan, SPO1 Marvin Pajilan, PO2 Joseph de la Cruz, PO2 Ronnie Aseboque, PO2 Rennie Aseboque, PO2 Wilfredo Sangel, PO2 Henry Villagonzalo, PO2 Leo Gabrang, and PO2 Alfred Torreon, all of the Makati police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF).

"While we are relentless in our campaign against "kotong" cops, we also recognize and give honor to those who remain true to their oath to serve and protect," said NCRPO chief Director Ricardo De Leon.

He noted that at least 45 policemen and traffic enforcers were rounded up since the campaign against "kotong" cops was launched.

The latest to be arrested were traffic enforcers, Filipino Juan, 53; Jack Asis, 37; and Anthony Noveda, 32; for extorting money from motorist Arnold Gamboa, 29, at the corner of Road 10 and Capulong Streets in Tondo last Friday.

When asked why the rogue cops and traffic enforcers continue plying their illegal activities despite the intensified campaign against them, De Leon said: "May gusto talagang magpalusot, pero ang problema hindi sila nakakalusot (There will always be people who will to try to continue with their old ways but they just couldn’t do it anymore)."

Lina handed out the awards yesterday to the 12 honest policemen during his radio program "Sagot Ko ‘Yan", which he co-hosts with De Leon.

Other cops who have outstanding accomplishments from Dec. 2003 to March 2004 will also be included in the program, De Leon announced.

Durana was honored because of his refusal to accept P213,000 in bribe money for the amicable settlement of estafa and falsification of public documents cases last Jan. 23.

Obar, on the other hand, was cited for his refusal to accept a reward being offered to him by victims of an illegal recruiter who was arrested last Feb. 23. The recruiter allegedly gypped millions of pesos from applicants for caregivers in Canada.

Mangulabnan, the team leader of the nine-man AID-SOTF team of the Makati police, likewise refused P50,000 offered by a certain Andrea Angelo in exchange for the release of her common-law-husband, Rex Salonga, who was arrested for possession of illegal drugs.

"Such integrity and dedication shown by Mangulabnan and his men is an honorable accomplishment not only for themselves but for the entire NCRPO and the police institution as well," said De Leon.

De Leon explained that the Kuya Ko 2! Honor Roll program is aimed at recognizing police beat patrollers who have displayed extra-ordinary honesty, integrity, and dedication beyond the call of duty.

He also recommended to PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. the establishment of the Hall of Fame at the NCRPO and its five police district headquarters for "displaying pictures and citing the good deeds and extreme display of honesty and bravery of individual honorees worthy of emulation by other policemen."