745 cops in Marawi siege get special promotion

Seven hundred forty-five police personnel were given special promotion by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) for risking their lives and showing gallantry beyond the call of duty during the Marawi City siege on May 23, 2017.

The commission said that the heroic acts of the police officers resulted in the neutralization of 920 local terrorist groups (LTGs), rescue of 1,777 hostages and the

recovery of 479 units of assorted highpowered firearms, several rounds of ammunition, and ordnance and improvised explosive device (IED).

The local terrorist group, led by IsnilonHapilon and brothers Abdullah and Omar Maute, had tried to establish a “Caliphate” in Marawi City in a bid to gain recognition and support from foreign terrorists.

Such acts beyond the call of duty speak well of the police officers’ show of courage and heroism in the face of adversity and imminent danger when the Maute Group together with a number of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and other lawless elements deliberately attacked and sieged Marawi City, Napolcom said.

Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Atty. Rogelio T. Casurao said the Commission en banc approved Resolution No. 2018-206 confirming the special promotion to the next higher rank of the 745 PNP personnel.

This was made following the recommendation of then PNP Chief Police Director General Ronald M. Dela Rosa who sought for the meritorious promotion of the gallant police officers.

The 745 who were promoted are from the: Police Regional Office (PRO) ARMM – 163; PRO 10 – 91; PRO 11 – 9; PRO 6 and PRO COR – two each; PROs 2, 7, 9, 12, 13 and NCRPO – one each; Special Action Force (SAF) – 437; Maritime Group (MG) – 16; Communications and Electronics Service (CES) – six; Health Service (HS) and Crime Laboratory Group (CLG) – four each; and, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Police Security Protection Group (PSPG), Logistics Support Service (LSS), Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM), and PHAU Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) – one each.

Then Senior Superintendent Rolando Anduyan, deputy regional director for operations of PRO ARMM and the designated commander of the Joint Task Group (JTG) PNP, managed the personnel and resources of the group in support of the Joint Task Force Marawi. Anduyan, now a chief superintendent, was recently appointed new Manila Police District director.

“The courage displayed by these valiant police officers earned themselves not only the admiration of the members of the PNP but also of the people they had sworn to serve,” Casurao said.

Under Section 38 (b) of RA 6975, as amended by Section 33 (b) of RA 8551, any uniformed member of the PNP who has exhibited acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry at the risk of his/her life above and beyond the call of duty shall be promoted to the next higher rank, provided, that such acts shall be validated by the Commission based on established criteria.