PHILIPPINE National Police chief, General Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan on Tuesday flew to Davao City to talk with officers and men of the Police Regional Office 11 and give awards to outstanding personnel of the Southern Mindanao police force including those involved in bringing government service to far-flung communities in the region.\
The top cop also paid a courtesy call on Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte after talking with PRO11 officers led by Brigadier Gen. Filmore B. Escobal at the Southern Mindanao police force’s regional headquarters in Camp Quintin Merecido.
The PNP chief cited Escobal for his innovative Revitalized-Pulis sa Barangay or RPSB Program which they launched to help residents living in so-called Geographical Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas in the region.
The R-PSB program so far has brought potable water, toilets, roads and schools to a number of poor villages in the region, mostly populated by indigenous people who have long been being exploited by the New People’s Army due to lack of government presence in the past.
Given the PNP Medalya ng Kagalingan were Lieutenant Colonel Marlou N. Labares, Lieutenants Shiela May Pansoy, Neil T. Jamila, Aizzel A. Alvarez, Carlo P. Magno and Rolando B. Rubion and Master Sergeant Aida L. Awitin while Lt. Rolando B. Rubon and Patrolman Melbourne Bresbane G. Afan received the PNP Medalya ng Papuri from the PNP chief.
Lt. Col. Labares was cited for officiating a series of PRO11-sponsored mass weddings and baptismal ceremonies which benefited a total of 34 couples and 249 other individuals.
These events enabled the beneficiaries to properly register their names with different agencies including the National Statistics Office and the civil registry in order to avail of different livelihood packages and support from local government units and the government.
Lieutenants Pansoy and Jamila got their respective medals for their effort to build comfort rooms and a water storage facility for members of the B’laan tribe in Barangays Site and Donganpekong in Matanao, Davao del Sur last October 8.
Alvarez and Awitin were lauded for their role in the construction of a Lumad schoolbuilding and the opening of a 1.5-kilomter road in Bgy. Datu Danwata in Malita, Davao Occidental which is now benefiting local tribesmen and their children who have long been wanting to go to school or bring their farm goods to the local market.
Escobal said the two R-PSB officers convinced a local tribal leader to donate a one-hectare land thru ‘usufruct agreement’ in order to construct the school in their area which is known for having heavy NPA influence.
Magno got the award for leading the construction of a road and an integrated school in Sitio Saulon in Bgy. Tamugan, Marilog District in Davao City which benefited members of the Obu Manuvu tribe.
Rubion and Afan received the PNP Medalya ng Papuri for helping an Ata-Manobo woman identified as Editha Domel successfully deliver her healthy baby inside her house last October 21.
During his visit, Cascolan was also briefed by Escobal on the surrender of 153 firearms and other deadly weapons by former New People’s Army rebels in the region.
The surrendered weapons include 40 M-16 automatic rifles, 21 Garand rifles, 14 12-gauge shotguns, 13 caliber .45 pistols, 11 M-14 rifles, 11 AK-47 automatic rifles, 10 cal. .38 revolvers, 8 Carbine rifles, 8 9mm sub-machine guns, 3 M-203 grenade launchers, 1 M-79 grenade launcher and an M-60 light machinegun.
The PNP chief also spearheaded the signing of another usufruct agreement between the PNP and the Island Garden City of Samal led by Mayor Al David Uy and Vice Mayor Richard Guindolman which allows the PNP to build a hangar for assets from the PNP Air Unit Station.
Escobal and his brother, Major Gen. Arnel B. Escobal, director of the PNP Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Eastern Mindanao, also attended the event.
