Res Gestae
PNP Badge of Honor
(Note: The Police Regional Office 6 held Wednesday (May 13) its 1stOratorical Cup with the theme “PNP Badge of Honor". Seventeen police officers regionwide joined the contest. And, this writer was adjudged the winner.
It is my contention that in every contest, like this one, the winners are not chosen by the craftiness of their pieces alone but also with the over-all impact of their presentations.
As tribute to all the contestants, who all equally did a very impressive presentation (but the judges have to choose only one champion), I am yielding the space of this column for seventeen brilliant thoughts on the PNP badge, a little piece of metal pinned in the left chest of a uniformed police officer.
May this endeavor help promote the understandingof the public and police officers themselves and gain their respect for the PNP Badge of Honor.)
OUR BADGE, OUR IDENTITY
(Written and delivered by POIII Francisco B Lindero, Jr (Champion). of Regional Public Information Office, who represented PRO6 Regional Headquarters.)
Have you ever experienced a psychological turmoil in attempting to formulate a self-concept and decide upon future goals? Some may simply call it as “confusion”. I call it “identity crisis”.
Honorable Judges, officers and colleagues in the Philippine National Police, my fellow contestants, I once suffered an identity crisis. And, probably, you also did.
A world-renown psychologist, Erik Erikson, coined the term “identity crisis”. And, he said only individuals who succeed in resolving the crisis will be ready to face future challenges in life.
Seeing your glowing faces, it is no doubt that you are all survivors of the crisis! Aren’t you?
And that only means one thing: identity crisis is a reality. It is inevitable.
In my case, I resolved the crisis just recently. And, this piece of metal has made it possible for me to do so.
I tell you why…
I joined the Philippine National Police in 2001 filled with idealism of public service. But my idealism was fleeting.
Again, I tell you why…
The quagmire of issues on police irregularities – from illegal arrest to summary execution, from extortion to syndicated robbery, spoils the image of our organization. And, as neophyte police officer, I became vulnerable to the impact of these issues. The daily headlines and breaking news on police involvement in crimes are just disturbing. Alarming. Frustrating! In effect, such caused me to suffer a crisis…an identity crisis. And, the more I was exposed in these issues, the worse my identity crisis had become.
Last week, I started my 40 days journey with Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life”. The goal of this journey is for me to be able to answer the question, “What on earth am I here for?” That is but a basic question to one who seeks the reason for his being…his identity.
Interestingly, the Integrated Transformation Program of the Philippine National Police admits the need for each police officer to answer that question, and I reword it, “What on earth am I in this organization for?”
It’s probably because, as an organization, we figuratively suffer from an identity crisis, and therefore the need to seek back our true identity.
While racing to uncover the secret of my true identity, I asked myself, “What on earth am I in this organization for?”
Last week I watched the movies: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum.
Considered by critics as “The Best action pictures in decades,” the movies tell the story of Jason Bourne, a CIA trained assassin who suffered from amnesia. Racing to unlock the secret of his own identity, Jason Bourne discovers the deadly truth: he’s a 30 million dollar government weapon. He is an elite government agent.
Like Jason Bourne, I traced back my true identity by looking for signs.
Then I’ve heard the story of “The hero of Siocon”. It is about PO1 Jamaron Sandag who took a heroic stand against 100 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters and Abu Sayyaf group terrorists on May 4, 2003. The story of Police Superintendent Ricardo Villanueva, head of Quezon Provincial Mobile Group, who manifested gallantry in the face of armed NPA rebels in an encounter on April 6, 2004.
Another familiar story is one of PO1 Rolen Jaluag who declined a hundred thousand pesos bribed money to turn down a drug case against three suspects in Sagay City in October 10, 2004. Of course, I can’t forget my batchmates, PO1 Raffy Billones and PO1 Judasses Catalogo, together with two other police officers, who staged bravery and gallantry in defending their detachment during the harassment conducted by NPA rebels before midnight of December 12, 2006.
As stories of these police officers keep on flashing back in my memory, I could still hardly get their significance in knowing my true identity. But, last week, during the conferment of PNP badge ceremony, I experienced a moment of great awakening.
In that ceremony, I heard this and I quote:
The PNP Badge is placed, nearer to your heart, to remind you of the fidelity and dedication to duty expected of you as a public servant.
Inside the seal are the virtues of service, honor and justice. They remind you to always render the highest form of public service for our fellowmen. Walk tall, head up and bravely face the daily dangers of duty. Keep the badge unsullied and free of any breach of fidelity by the regularity of your conduct.
Every word…yes, every word…was like a double-edged sword piercing in my heart. Then I realized, in that very instant, that PNP badge must have inspired our police heroes to do their mandate and even performed acts beyond the ordinary call of duty.
My mind drifted away with thoughts about my discovery…about the meaning of my PNP badge. And, when I came back to my senses, I held my badge tightly and made a firm resolve that the next time I experience identity crisis, I know where to look for signs of my true identity.
Now, unlike Jason Bourne who said “Everything I found out, I wanna forget”, this man…this police officer accepts the challenge of what he just discovered.
Will you?
(Next issue: “Wear the Badge, Feel the Honor of POIII Rachel Garnica (1stRunner Up) of Capiz Police Provincial Office)