Police in the Cordillera have proven anew their efficiency and innovativeness in carrying out their mandate to serve and protect the Filipinos.
Two of the region’s ranking police officers and a unit were re-cognized as among the country’s best during the awarding rites that coincided with the Philippine National Police 119th Police Service Anniversary celebration on Aug. 6.
Benguet Provincial Police Office Director, Col. Elmer E. Ragay, led the roster of national awardees from the region with his citation as Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer for Operations, the aspect that covers, among other things, the enforcement of special laws and manhunt and internal security operations.
Ragay said his recognition is a product of the combined efforts and good working relations bet-ween and among the local police offices, local government units, and the regional police headquarters.
“It is not my achievement alone, but a result of a concerted effort. We are barely one year in office at marami na tayong nagawa, with the help of our men,” he said, attributing Benguet PPO’s latest feat to the commitment of the province’s uniformed men and women in performing their duties.
Ragay, who has vast experience in police intelligence and operation, assumed the stewardship of Benguet police in September 2019.
He said it was also the dedication of the various police units that led to province’s recording an all-time low crime rate.
Ragay added the support of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera under B/Gen. R’win Pagkalinawan, provincial government through Gov. Melchor Diclas, and caretaker Eric Yap further elevated Benguet PPO’s standing in the national recognition.
Aside from the individual recognition, Benguet PPO also reaped another award, through the La Trinidad police which was cited as the country’s Best Municipal Police Station.
La Trinidad MPS is currently under the leadership of Maj. Cleff Vencio. The capital town’s police earned the same re-cognition in 2018.
Also, the efforts of Baguio City Police Office Director, Col. Allen Rae Co, in integrating technology to mitigate the spread of the Covid-19 earned for him a special citation from Camp Crame.
Co was among the recipients of the Management Service Special Unit Award for implementing pro-jects through the use of technology to visualize, analyze, and mitigate the spread of Covid-19 cases in Baguio City.
The individual awardees will also receive cash and a gun certificate each while the unit awardees will get P300,000, all from the Office of the President. – Jane B. Cadalig
April 19, 2024
