Espenido named among region’s top policemen
A national awardee for his “accomplishments” in anti-illegal drugs operation, Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido received another recognition on Thursday, Aug. 24 during the Police Regional Office-10’s (PRO-10) celebration of the 116th Police Service Anniversary here at Camp Alagar in brgy. Lapasan.
Espenido was feted by Police Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario, the Deputy Chief for Administration, as Ozamiz City Police was hailed as the Best City Police Station from all over the regions.
Espenido is chief of the Ozamiz City Police Station, which led the bloody Ozamiz raid that left 16 people dead including Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. and his wife, Susan.
“Pasalamat ta sa Ginoo sa tanan, si Espendio tao lang, masayop, masipyat, mamatay, mawala, God made this all possible,” Espenido said, when asked for comment.
Meanwhile, Iligan City Police Office
was awarded as the Best City Police Office, while its police chief, Senior Superintendent Leony Roy Ga, was also recognized as the Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer for Operations.
Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Office was also hailed as the best provincial office, Manolo Fortich Municipal Police as the best municipal police station, Bukidnon as the Best Provincial Public Safety Company, and Iligan City Public Safety Company as the best public safety company.
Also, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office was recognized as the Best Unit for its accomplishment in the Double Barrel and Double Barrel Alpha projects.
The region’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Regional Crime Laboratory Office, Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Regional Chaplain Service, and Regional Health Service were cited as Special Unit Awardees.
Apolinario has also awarded the following officials for their outstanding performances: Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Padulla as Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer for Administration, Senior Inspector Glen Janog as Best Junior Police for Administration, Chief Inspector Ritchie Yandug as Best Junior Police for Operations, Senior Police Officer 2 Jodille Halup, Best Senior Police Non-Comissioned Officer for Administration, PO3 Macario Linog as Best Junior Police Non-Commissioned Officer, PO3 Loreto Edulsa as Best Junior Police Non-Commissioned Officer for Operations.
Medalya ng Papuri were also given to Senior Superintendent Mary Leocy Mag-Abo, Supt. Aileen Bernido, Chief Insp. Christian Karl Terence Caballes, Senior Insp. Joel Lee, Insp. Geraldine Abalde, SPO4 Calixtro Benido Jr., PO3 Mark Job Orendain, PO3 Arnold Sabijon Jr., PO2 Edzel Salvo, and PO1 Julius Ceasar Gumorod.
Senior Inspector Noel Cano was given special award for leading the arrests of the Cololot brothers, the suspected New People’s Army (NPA) bomb experts apprehended in Quezon, Bukidnon.
Non Uniformed Personnel Grace Abalde, Florido Caracol, and Mylene Muego were also recognized in yesterday’s anniversary.
Chief Superintendent Timoteo Pacleb, PRO-10 regional director, thanked stakeholders, private and other government agencies, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the community in general for their relentless support to the whole police force of region 10.
“Likewise, we renew our appeal to continue supporting us, as we face new challenges in the coming months, and we express our gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte and our PNP Chief Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa for their support,” he said.
“The PRO-10 remains committed to strengthen police presence in communities and assure the safety of our constituents,” he added.
Apolinario, for his part, has challenged the policemen of Northern Mindanao to “stop at nothing when it comes to eradicating illegal drugs in the society”.
“I’m sure we have the right people here in region 10 to do the job, in eradicating crime and corruption,” Apolinario said.