ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 9, 2013) – For their exemplary performance, courage and gallantry beyond call of duties, 21 members of the regional police force were given awards on Monday in Zamboanga City.
Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman, said lawyer Washington Javier, president of Public Safety Mutual Benefits, Incorporated, who was the guest of honor and speaker during the ceremony, and Chief Superintendent Juanito Vaño, head of the Western Mindanao Regional Police Office, led the awarding ceremony and praised the dedication of the uniformed personnel. They were assisted by Chief Superintendent Mario Yanga.
Huesca said the regional police once again have recognized the excellent performance of its members at the height of the September attack by the Moro National Liberation Front in Zamboanga City. The fighting lasted three weeks and killed and wounded over 400 people and displaced more than 120,000 civilians.
“The Philippine National Police has always recognizes the exemplary performance of its members who displayed their courageous and gallantry during and beyond call of duties in which the Police Regional Offices 9 has adopted the system,” he said.
Huesca said a total of 11 commissioned officers and 10 non-commissioned officers assigned with Police Regional Office 9 were given due recognition at Camp Colonel Romeo Abendan in the village of Mercedes.
“The awardees were given the awards, due to the courageous and gallantry they have been displayed during the crisis in Zamboanga City. The awards were individually given to the deserving members such as from the conduct of offensive against the members of the Moro National Liberation Front, not taking into consideration that their lives will be endangered, extended aide and assistance in order to relief the trauma being suffered by victims, planning and strategic evaluation for tactical offensive operations of the government troops and for continuously initiated information-dissemination aimed at providing the public with adequate, accurate , relevant and timely information for the public to take cognizance,” he said.
“With these feats, the awardees have contributed in the fulfilling the Philippine National Police’s mission towards maintaining peace and order and ensuring public safety and internal security, thus, they earned credit non only for themselves but also for the entire PNP,” he added.
Police also provided financial assistance to its members who lost their houses in the conflagration that followed the fighting in several villages. Javier also led the handing out of the financial assistance to the fire victims. (Mindanao Examiner)
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