Villar sponsors resolution honoring outstanding police officers

Sen. Cynthia Villar sponsored today the Senate resolution commending the country's outstanding police officers.

Proposed Senate Resolution No. 101 authored by Villar, congratulates the ten police officers who are awarded the 2016 Metrobank Foundation--Rotary Club of New Manila East (RCNME) Search for the Country's Outstanding Police Officers in Service (COPS).

"The presence of these outstanding police officers in service continually reminds us that there are still those who remain true to their vows and duties to faithfully serve and protect the people. They renew our faith in our police force, even when occasionally we hear news about rogue, wayward, corrupt and even criminal policemen," Villar said in her sponsorship speech.

The four commissioned officers given the awards are Police Chief Inspector Ryan Lopez Manongdo (Pozorrubio Municipal Police Station); Police Superintendent Jemuel Felongco Siason (Sultan Kudarat Police Provincial Office); Police Senior Superintendent Susan Rabano Jalla (PNP Crime Laboratory, Camp Crame); and Police Superintendent Mario Navarro Rariza, Jr. (Police Community Relations Group, Camp Crame).

The six non-commissioned officers awarded are PO2 Fatima Peñones Ibias-Lanuza (Minalabac Municipal Police Station); PO3 Nida Lachica Gregas (Aklan Provincial Police Office); SPO1 Mhay Mayuyo Rubio (Bataan Police Provincial Office); SPO 2 Jeffrey Bayotlang Ojao (Cabadbaran Police Station 5); SPO3 Hamidhan Bibio Tebbeng (PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group Mindanao Field Unit, Camp Gen Eduardo Batalla, Zamboanga City); and SPO3 Ezrael Domingo Lantingan (Alabel Municipal Station, Saranggani Province).

"Ngayong mga panahon na ito sa ating pinaigting na kampanya kontra droga at kriminalidad, alam natin na nasasabak ang ating mga kapulisan, sa pamununo ni PNP Chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, sa iba't ibang mapanganib na operasyon. Hangad natin ang kanilang kaligtasan at tagumpay laban sa mga kriminal at iba pang mga banta sa kapayapaan at kaayusan sa ating bayan," Villar said.

Villar, who was chair of the final board of judges of this year's search for COPS, met with the awardees at the Senate's Padilla Room to personally present the Senate resolution. The ten awardees now join the rank of 128 other outstanding police officers previously awarded. It is the 14th year that COPS awards are given.

"It was truly an enriching and inspiring experience for me to hear about the COPS' life stories. It gave me a glimpse of where they draw their drive for integrity and their passion for public service," she said.

Villar also thanked the Metrobank Foundation Inc., Philippine Savings Bank and RCNME for recognizing "the gallant men and women in the country's police force, who have excelled in protecting and serving all of us by exemplifying professionalism, competence, dedication and integrity, worthy to be emulated by the rest of their colleagues in the Philippine National Police."

"The search for COPS is an expression of our appreciation and gratitude to the efforts of our Philippine police officers in maintaining the peace and order situation in the country, even when they are oftentimes exposed to great adversity," she added.