13 policemen awarded with 'Medalya ng Kagitingan'

A day after a shootout that resulted in the death of three robbery suspects, 13 policemen of the Quezon City Police District involved in the operation were awarded yesterday, with the chief of the Metro Manila police saying there needs to be an immediate pat on the back for their well performing personnel.

Metro police chief Director Jefferson Soriano conferred yesterday the medals to Superintendents Alex Sintin, and Ipil Duenas, Inspector Celso Destajo, SPO1 Sandino Rodriguez, PO3 Christian Bajen, PO3 Egberg Clark Valdez, PO3 Kristo John Ramirez, PO3 Jimmy Paras, PO3 Mario Palic, PO2 Rufino Gabis, PO1 Rionaldo Sabulaan, PO1 Ganie Walter Ganiron, and PO1 Marlon Borres, all belonging to the District Police Intelligence Unit.

Records show that the DPIU personnel were conducting detective patrol in Quezon City at around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday when they received reports of a robbery incident at the Sea Oil gas station and the Goodah fastfood chain located along Tandang Sora Ave., in Barangay Culiat.

A team headed by Destajo immediately responded and intercepted the three suspects who were armed with caliber .38 revolvers.

Instead of surrendering, the suspects opened fire at the policemen, who returned fire.

The exchange of gunfires resulted in the death of the three suspects.

Soriano commended the DPIU personnel for their immediate response to the call for police assistance, which he dubbed as “an excellent display of their strong commitment to serve and protect the community.”

“Their heroism has earned credit not only for themselves and the Metro police office but for the whole PNP organization. That is why they are worthy to receive the Medalya ng Kagitingan,” said Soriano. – With Reinir Padua and Cecille Suerte Felipe