MANILA, Philippines?Supt. Sidney Villaflor took a chance on a tighter shot amid a drizzle and a power blackout. In a split second, the hostage-taking drama ended with a single, nonfatal bullet wound in the right shoulder of the knife-wielding man.

Villaflor, the hostage negotiator and police chief of San Jose City in Nueva Ecija, was recalling the three-hour evening standoff on Sept. 28, 2008, in which both the hostage-taker and his captive were safe after the gunfire.

It might have been far in proportions from the Aug. 23 hostage-taking on a tourist bus in Manila this year, but it was challenging nonetheless. And for the officer manning a city of almost 200,000 with just 70 men, it was a ?win-win? finish to one of the most difficult cases he has faced in his 18 years in the force.

For averting a tragic end to the incident and cultivating close ties with the San Jose community in anticrime efforts, Villaflor has been one of the 10 police officers chosen for this year?s most outstanding men in uniform in annual awards of the Metrobank Foundation, PSBank and the Rotary Club of New Manila-East.

The winners of the Country?s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS) will formally receive their awards in Malacañang on Tuesday, a recognition that comes while the Philippine National Police grapples with criticisms for a bungled rescue mission in last week?s hostage drama, not only at home but also from around the world.

The force is under fire for the death of eight Hong Kong tourists held hostage by a dismissed police officer, Rolando Mendoza, on board their bus. Standing on an already shaky human rights record, the PNP is also under investigation after the release of a video showing a Manila precinct commander allegedly torturing a robbery suspect.

So many demands

In the San Jose case, Villaflor said the hostage-taker?a farmer enraged by his separation from his wife and three children?had ?so many demands.?

Aside from his wife and three children, the farmer wanted ?fried chicken, cigarettes, his siblings, the barangay captain ? Unfortunately, after giving him all his demands, the negotiations deteriorated and he was on the verge of stabbing his mother,? Villaflor said of that night almost two years ago.

After the farmer was hit in the shoulder, his hostage?his own 84-year-old mother?was saved from what would have been fatal stabs he was about to take before Villaflor pulled the trigger.

?It would have been an easier shot to aim at his head, but I opted to shoot him on his shoulder even though it was risky because he was hiding behind his hostage. But I opted to endeavor a win-win ending where no one will die,? he told the Inquirer.

As police officers across the country reel from the Manila hostage-taking backlash, Villaflor reminded the public that many other officers remained steadfast to their sworn duty.

Double whammy

?This is a double whammy,? he said of the hostage crisis and torture video in a phone interview. ?But I hope the public will realize that that?s only two police officers as against 135,000 police personnel who are doing good for the country.?

Villaflor, 40, described the COPS award as ?just a plus.? Even without it, he said, ?I will still be eager to do my job. People should realize that PNP members sacrifice for service, dedicating more of their time for work than family.?

The officer has three children and lives in a rented apartment in his city.

Asked about the bungled police operations during the bus hostage standoff on Monday, Villaflor begged off from commenting on what his fellow officers did. But he hoped the PNP will take away something positive from the debacle.

?We should accept our faults. But we should turn the negative situation into an opportunity to learn. We already saw our shortcomings and we should face it in a positive way. We provide for what we lack and correct the mistakes,? Villaflor said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Community ties

In his turf, a city at the crossroads of routes to northern provinces, Villaflor continues to touch base with the community in efforts to keep them involved in keeping their hometown safe.

?We want to have much more solid coordination with the populace. If the community does not support us, the job becomes more difficult. They should realize that public safety and security is everybody?s business,? he said.

Like the San Jose City police chief, the other COPS awardees were selected for bringing the police force closer to the community.

Supt. Florencio Ortilla, now acting operations chief of the regional police office in Davao City, helped organize a Barangay Crime Watch in his old post in Bacoor town in Cavite province, mustering some 1,500 volunteers in peacekeeping efforts.

Also posted in Davao City, Supt. Noel Ponsaran, a regional chaplain, has been instrumental in forging closer ties between Christian and Muslim communities in Maguindanao province. He led a ?conflict transformation? campaign in Davao del Sur province, traveling through communities to bring the message of peace.

Supt. Leo Francisco, Metro Manila?s intelligence and operations chief, was recognized for mobilizing a barangay-based intelligence network in Cavite, Rizal, Bataan and Masbate for the arrest of Manuel Montero, a suspect in the killing of a starlet?s sister, Ruby Rose Barrameda.

Women officers

Police Officers 3 Shella Mae Sangrines and Zoraida Aripin were commended for upholding children and women?s rights in cases of abuse. Sangrines heads the complaints and investigation unit of Iloilo City?s Regional Women and Children Protection Desk, while Aripin is chief investigator in Zamboanga City?s Women and Children Concern Desk.

Police Officers 3 Edilberto Euraoba III, Roel Paclibar and Joey Castillon were selected for their exemplary performance as community relations officers.

Euraoba?s radio program on crime prevention in Dumaguete City helped spread crime prevention tips to listeners, eventually curbing the city?s crime rate.

Besides his skills in community rapport, Paclibar has received medals for his combat experience. He has been involved in operations against car theft, robbery and kidnap gangs.

Castillon, an officer posted in Tobias Fornier town in Antique province, has been active in coastal protection projects in Semirara Island. He is part of a community task force against illegal fishing and helped build a village-based public safety plan with barangay officials.

As special investigator in Lingayen, capital town of Pangasinan province, SPO2 Hermie Raymundo brokered the surrender of eight alleged members of the communist Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan. He also led the investigation of murder charges against Monteson Ignacio Jr., said to be one of the country?s most wanted for leading a robbery and gun-for-hire gang.

These achievements show that the police force continues to score victories elsewhere despite all its flaws, Villaflor said.

?Our spirit, our camaraderie, our initiative, our dedication to service ? Despite everything we lack, our love for police work will always be there,? he said.