Res Gestae
Cops' spot promotion, long overdue
It's dragging! It is disappointing! It's unfair!
This is how I reacted when a friend told me that his friend, a cop, who was among the victims of harassment initiated by the New People's Army in 2006, has not yet been promoted.
My friend was referring to his friend, POI Judesses G. Catalogo, who was with POIs Joselito M. Miranda, Abraham S. Golingan, and Raffy E. Billones, when the attack transpired before midnight of December 12, 2006 in the Community Police Assistance Center (COMPAC) at Brgy San Jose, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.
I have never been in combat operations ever since. But, knowing the story of the encounter involving these four POIs, I couldn't help but imagine the great danger facing them during that 40-minute exchange of fires with the rebels: the possibility of losing their limbs… their families, of facing death! There were more than 30 NPAs surrounding the COMPAC. The police officers were outnumbered. But they stood their ground and never surrendered.
According to the report relative to that incident, hundreds of empty shells of cartridges for M16 and M14 rifles and 10 duds of M203 grenades were found at the perimeter of the COMPAC. It means there were hundreds of possibilities that any of these POIs would be hit… and killed. Thank God, they were spared!
Undoubtedly, the gallantry of Catalogo, Miranda, Golingan and Billones gave pride and honor to the whole Philippine National Police. Their bravery is worthy of emulation by every law enforcer who commits to offer his or her life in the service of God, Country and People. They well deserve a promotion.
Until this time, however, I (and these POIs) don't know if they will still be given the promotion in recognition to their heroic act. And this is what I am worried about.
I simply cross my fingers that they will not have the fate of SPO4 Dominador Perez who reached his compulsory retirement last December 2007 without getting the promised promotion for his bravery and gallantry in defending the Tubungan Police Station against the estimated 50 NPAs in the afternoon of June 15, 2004.
During that incident, nine of his men, who were disarmed by the NPAs, called him to surrender, but Perez did not heed their call. Alone, Perez courageously foiled the NPA's attempt to overrun the station.
Undoubtedly, it was an act of bravery… of heroism. But what he got was empty promises!
Now, may the PNP make a difference in the case of POIs Catalogo, Miranda, Golingan and Billones.
(Send your comments and suggestions to rogatepnp@yahoo.com.)