Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, PRO-7 chief, says the two police officers are proof that there are good people within the PNP ranks. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
TWO police officers will be awarded medals of merit by the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) for stopping three robbery suspects in separate incidents in Cebu City last Wednesday.
PO1 Gilbert Cabajar of the Regional Safety Public Battalion (RPSB) was lauded for stopping one robbery suspect who made off with his victim’s bag near a mall in Colon Street, Cebu City last Wednesday evening.
He was off duty when he responded to the alarm.
Another policeman, PO1 Ronnie Gerardino, arrested two motorcycle-riding men who were later shown to have carried firearms and packs of shabu.
The drug suspects were earlier flagged down by a female traffic enforcer at corner Osmeña Boulevard and Escario Street in Cebu City at past 7 a.m. Wednesday since one of them wasn’t wearing a helmet.
Gerardino, who was in the vicinity, came over, frisked the suspects, and found one .38 revolver and one .45 pistol, packs of shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia in the rider’s pants and bag.
Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, PRO-7 director, said both Cabajar and Gerardino deserve to be recognized for doing their job.
“They have shown that there are still many good policemen in Central Visayas. Their valiant efforts will not be left unnoticed,” he told reporters yesterday.
Taliño said the two policemen will receive the Medalya ng Kagalingan which is awarded to members of the Philippine National Police “for a single act of heroism or a series of heroic acts in a duty responsibility.”
He said PRO-7’s Personnel Division will also evaluate whether Cabajar and Gerardino will receive meritorious promotions.
Reward money may be given if funds are available, Taliño said.
“We need to boost the morale and welfare of our policemen. I want you to know that the scalawags in the police service are just few. Rewarding our policemen is part of boosting their morale,” he said.
Cabajar was with PO3 Awing Tabayag when they heard gunshots at Colon Street, Cebu City at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The suspect identified as Ryan Flores was spotted grabbing the bag of Jordan Dico, a supervisor of Happy Mart in Colon Street.
The policemen ran towards them just as the robber shot Dico twice. Cabajar aimed at the suspect and shot him.
Flores was brought to the Cebu City Medical Center but failed to make it. The victim was rushed to Chong Hua Hospital.