Res Gestae
Gallant cops
Wow! About 12 million pesos cash could have been an easy take for a group of robbers who looted RCBC bank in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental last Tuesday night.
But their attempt was futile. Brave cops foiled the bank heist.
If I am not mistaken, this was the biggest bank robbery incident that ever happened in the region. The good thing about this one, however, was that the money was recovered — every single bill of that 12 millions pesos.
When the report about the incident was aired on the radio and television, I have heard some said, the four policemen should have known better. I was confused. But later I understood what they meant. It was said that in some other places, recovery of this amount of money is almost unexpected, even if the robbers get killed or arrested. As a “practice”, the responding policemen enjoy the take.
But, now we have this story to counter that claim.
Police Officers III (POIII) Romelo Gentugao and Ernel Mudanza, and POIs Lyle Cañazares and Armar Mariano are four policemen whose display of conspicuous gallantry is worthy of praise and emulation.
Is there a need to say that they deserve a spot promotion?
If spot promotion for these four cops is but a wishful thinking, I would not be surprised.
We have stories of promised promotion but remain a dream for the concerned policemen.
Who could not forget SPOIV Dominador Perez who sustained gunshot wounds as he defended Tubungan Police Station against the New Peoples Army rebels in 2004? Perez was promised with promotion to the next higher rank. But he never had that promotion until he compulsorily retired from the service.
The same fate is falling upon POIs Judesses G. Catalogo, Joselito M. Miranda, Abraham S. Golingan, and Raffy E. Billones, who never yield in defending their Community Police Assistance Center (COMPAC) at Brgy San Jose, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental against the NPA rebels who harassed them before midnight of December 12, 2006. They almost lost their lives. But they bravely stood their ground. They too were promised with spot promotion to the next higher rank. And whoever made that promise, he or they did not make good at it.
The story of gallantry of Hinigaran cops delivers million pa-pogi points for the PNP. But what will they take from all this… spot promotion?
Wow! (I crossed my fingers).
(For comments text 09193161190 or email at rogatepnp@yahoo.com.)