Farmer’s daughter graduates as PNPA salutatorian

Rodel (left) and Rita (center) Carisusa greet with a hug their 25-year-old daughter Police Lieutenant (Inspector) Merriefin Longcob Carisusa (right), who graduated as salutatorian of the Philippine National Police Academy Sansiklab Class of 2019 at Camp General Mariano Castañeda in Silang, Cavite on Friday, March 22, 2019. (Photo by Cathrine Gonzales / INQUIRER.net)

CAVITE, Philippines — It was a woman, a farmer’s daughter, who ranked second among 201 graduates of the Sansiklab Class of 2019 of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).

Police Lieutenant (Inspector) Merriefin Longcob Carisusa, 25, was welcomed with the warmest hugs and kisses of her father, Rodel, and her mother, Rita, a housewife, as she and her batchmates graduated at Camp General Mariano Castañeda here in the municipality of Silang on Friday (March 22).

READ: Sansiklab Class 2019 graduates from Philippine National Police Academy

Carisusa, who is joining the Philippine National Police (PNP), admits that her chosen field is dominated by men. Despite this fact, however, six women were among the top 10 graduates of the class.

“However, we made it. Anim kaming pumasok sa top 10 at ito ay isang simbolo, it should be an inspiration to everyone else na kung sino mang gustong maglingkod sa ating bayan ay hindi po hadlang kung ano ang kasarian,” she told reporters shortly after the graduation ceremony.

(However, we made it. Six of us landed on the top 10 and this is a symbol. It should be an inspiration to everyone that gender is not a hindrance to whoever wants to serve the country.)

During the graduation rites, Carisusa received the Vice Presidential Kampilan award, the Journalism Kampilan, a Plaque of Merit, and awards for being Best in Public Safety and Leadership Management.

Sansiklab stands for “Sandigan ng Mamamayan na may Sigasig na Itaguyod ang Kapayapaan at Ipaglaban ang Bayan.”

Equal opportunities

As of March 15, only 31,794 or 17 percent of 187,485 police officers are women, based on the latest data of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

For Carisusa, it takes determination to challenge what is common if anyone wants to serve the people.

“Isa lang po itong motibasyon at inspirasyon sa lahat ng tao na kung gusto mo talagang maglingkod sa bayan, magpursigi lamang po,” she said.

(This is a motivation and inspiration for all people that if you want to serve the country, persevere.)

Carisusa also shrugged off the thought that the academy, which she entered in 2015, preferred to cater to male more than female cadets.

“I am also confident to say that the Philippine National Police Academy is giving equal opportunities to both men and women,” she said.

She advised parents not to worry if their children choose to enter the academy, as she said the PNPA “respects” everyone, whether male or female.

Other women joining Carisusa in the top 10 are Lieutenant Mary Grace Mag-usara Pabilario (3rd), Lieutenant Janila Andrea Malejana Garan (6th), Lieutenant Ciarra Ley Lustre Capule (7th), Lieutenant Mary Ann Balbuena De Los Santos (8th), and Lieutenant Anna May Padroncillo Mangabo (9th).

The graduating class consists of 157 males and 47 females; 138 will join the PNP, 41 will join the Bureau of Fire Protection, and 22 will join the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

In his speech during the graduation ceremony, President Rodrigo Duterte advised the 2019 batch never to be deceived by power or fame.

READ: Duterte to PNPA’s Sansiklab Class 2019: Never be deceived by power, fame

Carisusa said she will use the lessons she learned from the PNPA and her family as her take-off point in heeding the President’s advice and in creating change in the police force.

For now, she assured that the Sansiklab Class of 2019, whose motto is to “live as saviors, die as heroes,” will commit to its mandate.

“I can promise that the Sansiklab Class of 2019 will do our best to serve God, our country, and people na tapat at mahusay (honest and excellent),” she said. /ee