Women making a mark in a man’s world

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has a total of 148,000 personnel and less than 12,000 of them are female. However, President Aquino himself pointed out that “gender is immaterial when it comes to public service,” as he commended 10 outstanding policewomen in the Philippines for “extra-ordinary performance in the conduct of their duty.” Most of the 10 outstanding policewomen did not trade shots with enemies of the state but their dedication to their job as law enforcers made a big difference in the lives of the people their swore to serve and protect.

The Zonta Club of Makati Paseo de Roxas Foundation, Inc., which has been recognizing policewomen with exemplary performance for the past 12 years, recently gave the recognition to the policewomen with outstanding performance in 2013.

One of the 10 outstanding policewomen was Chief Inspector Gemma Vidal Braganza, the first woman chief of police (COP) of the Pinukpuk town in Kalinga. Her being a woman did not prevent her from waging an all-out campaign against wanted persons, especially those facing rape charges.

“In fact, during my term as Pinukpuk chief of police, my men and I managed to arrest a known untouchable man charged with eight counts of rape,” Braganza tells STARweek.

Braganza admits the responsibility of a cop was a tough challenge, which she readily welcomed and fortunately managed to make a difference.

“I challenged my men to earn the respect of the community. We have to implement the law without fear or favor. I lead them by example. I believe Pinukpuk policemen were inspired to do their mandated task of arresting wanted persons,” Braganza noted. “We really need to protect the community.”

After her stint in Pinukpuk, Braganza has been promoted as regional chief of the Women and Children Protection Desk in the Cordillera Administrative Region. Braganza has been in the police service for 19 years as she started as a rookie police officer 1 and eventually rose from the ranks.

SPO1 Cheryl Quinto Saldo of the Women and Children Protection Division (WCPD) of Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Office likewise has an exemplary record in giving justice to those victimized by crime in the province.

Saldo says she sent to jail four individuals who sexually abused innocent and helpless victims. “With hard work, we secured a court conviction against a man for raping his 3-year-old sister, and a man who raped a 10-year old boy.”

She also filed charges against a Korean national who raped his helper and a businessman who sexually abused a student.

“After those instances, marami na po ang lumapit sa amin para magreklamo. Nakita nila na talagang lahat nang humihingi sa amin ng tulong ay aming natutulungan. Tumaas ang tiwala nila sa pulis (Many people approached us to file complaints. They saw that we were able to help those who came to us for help. This raised their confidence in the police),” Saldo adds.

Saldo says having women in the police force really helps the police organization reach out to the community. “There are things that policemen cannot do that policewomen can handle very well, like talking to abused women and children.”

In her eight years in police service, PO2 Cheryl Lyn Wagas Ano-os has an inspiring story.

While at the Police Community Relations desk of the Ozamiz City Police Station, Ano-os said she took part in the “Pulis Ko, Titser Ko” program, wherein police officers would teach students from far flung areas which have no regular teachers.

“Sa ibang areas may teachers, doon sa ibang lugar na malayo, walang teacher. Sobrang layo, mahigit isang oras kaming naglalakad para marating yung lugar para maturuan yung mga bata (In some areas there are teachers, in the far flung areas there are none. Some places are so far away that we had to walk more than an hour to reach them and teach the children),” says Ano-os.

“Sa kabila ng pagod, masaya ang pakiramdam namin dahil nakapaglingkod kami (Even if it was tiring, we were happy because we were able to be of service),” adds Ano-os, who noted that she even received a text message from one of the parents in the area, saying “you made a big difference to the lives of people in our community.”

Braganza, Saldo and Ano-os were among the 10 excellent policewomen who paid a courtesy call on President Aquino in Malacanang recently.

The seven others were Inspector Arieza Otida of Cebu City Police Office, SPO3 Melinda Amsali of Tetuan Police Station Zamboanga City; Superintendent Maria Leonora Chua Camarao, OIC Discipline Law and Other Division, DPRM; PO3 Annaliza Palicpic Flores of the Aviation Security Group; SPO1 Ruth Bongo Violango of the Investigation and Homecide Section Cebu City; Senior Inspector Jovelyn Abe Banares, PNP Cagayan Valley and Senior Superintendent Herminigilda Dumaguin Salangad, HS Regional Health Service.

The President urged the policewomen to stay true to their work as they rise up the ranks of the PNP.

“Kung paanong sigasig ang ipinapakita ninyo habang nagsisimula pa lang sa serbisyo, ay siya rin sanang sigasig ang dalhin ninyo hanggang tumaas ang inyong ranggo (I hope that as you rise in the ranks, you show the same determination you had when you were just starting),” he said.

President Aquino likened the 10 to other policewomen he honored in previous speeches, such as Senior Inspector Charity Galvez and PO3 Edlyn Arbo.

Galvez helped repel more than 200 communist rebels who attacked a police station in Agusan del Sur on July 30, 2011 while Arbo fought a jeepney robber despite being unarmed and being off-duty.

The robber stabbed Arbo in the leg but it did not stop her from running after the robber, whom she later cornered and arrested.

Aquino also mentioned the bravery of Inspector Marjorie Manuta of Tacloban for standing her ground despite the devastation brought about by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Manuta was one of the first police officers to brief President Aquino about the extent of the damage and situation on the ground after Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas.

“Sa halip na magpakita ng pagod at pagkatuliro sa nangyaring delubyo, malinaw niyang iniulat ang sitwasyon at bawat suliraning kailangan nating tugunan sa apektadong komunidad (Instead of tiring and showing helplessness in the wake of the calamity, she was able to report the situation clearly and identify each problem that we had to address in the affected community),” Aquino said.

The President also took the opportunity to praise the courage of four policewomen who fought it out with robbers at SM Mall of Asia a few months ago.

The President said the four, who could have just stayed inside the comfort of their air-conditioned room, went to the Mall of Asia to pursue the robbers and protect civilians.

The Zonta Club of Makati Paseo de Roxas Foundation, Inc. is the proponent of the annual search for 10 outstanding policewomen of the Philippines.

The project is meant to discover and recognize the efforts and achievements of the female members of our national police force. This annual competition is open to all active duty, female members of the PNP with a rank of up to Police Senior Superintendent.

Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office (PIO) director, said the PNP has been pushing programs to give police personnel the opportunity to excel in their field and inspire them to innovate measures to better serve the public.