An early ’Noche Buena’ for a cop on duty
Virgilio Obogne. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Senior Police Officer 2 Virgilio Obogne always responds to the call of duty, even during Christmas, but he won’t let his family have their “noche buena” without him. He always finds a way to be with them on Christmas Eve.
Obogne, who prefers to be called “Bogs” rather than “sarhento (sergeant),” is a father of five; three are now professionals while the other two are still in school. He has two grandchildren.
Obogne, 54, is regularly assigned as a police guard at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group office in Camp Crame, official headquarters of the Philippine National Police, in Quezon City. Sometimes he is assigned to drive for the detained senators implicated in the pork barrel scam during their trips outside the PNP Custodial Center and PNP General Hospital.
Every December 24, in the afternoon, his family would bring potluck dishes for an early noche buena at the CIDG lobby, just in front of Obogne’s station at the reception desk. They would leave a few hours before the clock struck 12.
“Malungkot pero kailangan nilang umalis kasi hindi ko na sila mahahatid. Hindi rin naman pwedeng iwan ang trabaho. Kami-kaming pulis na lang nag-cecelebrate ng noche buena (It’s sad but they need to leave because I cannot go with them. I also cannot leave work. Only the police on duty celebrate noche buena),” he said.
To keep the atmosphere at work festive, he said the CIDG distributes food packs for policemen and other employees celebrating Christmas in the office away from their loved ones.
Retirement age
The compulsory retirement age for policemen is 56. Obogne prefers spending his remaining years of service doing administrative desk duty.
Aside from the fact that he’s “too old” to work in the field, he also did not want “temptations” to mar his 32-year career in the PNP.
“Kapag nasa labas ka, matutukso ka pang gumawa ng hindi mabuti (If you work in the field, you will be tempted to do something that’s not good),” he said. Policemen on the ground, he explained, are vulnerable to corruption and other illegal activities.
Obogne said he wants to maintain his clean record in his remaining years in the service.
“Gusto ko ang alaala ko na maiiwan sa mga anak ko, may ginawang mabuti ang tatay namin (I want that the memory I leave with my children be this, Our father did something good),” he said, voice breaking.
“Gusto kong maipagmalaki nila ako. ‘Yun lang ang legacy ko sa kanila (I want them to be proud of me. That is all the legacy I leave for them),” Obogne added. He quickly wiped tears from his eyes.
When he retires, the policeman said he looks forward to spending quality time with his family, especially his “apo (grandchildren).” During his free time, Obogne brings his apo to school before reporting to work.
He is also considering starting a low-capital business while pursuing a sideline repairing household appliances.
“Basta nasa bahay lang ako kasama ang pamilya ko, okay na ako (As long as I am at home with my family, I’m okay,” he said.
