Northern Samar cops get medals for repulsing NPA attack

PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde awards the Heroism Medal to one of the 18 officers of the Victoria Municipal Police who successfully defended their station to around 50 NPA rebels in Northern Samar. Photo from PNP

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday awarded medals to police officers of Victoria, Northern Samar, who successfully defended their station from an offensive of the New People’s Army (NPA) last March 28.

In an awarding ceremony held at Camp Crame, Police Lieutenant Eladio Alo, chief of Victoria police, and four other officers received the PNP Heroism Medal (Medalya ng Kadakilaan).

A separate ceremony will be held to confer the same medals to 13 other officers, who were on duty at the time of the awarding.

Apart from Alo, the other policemen conferred the award were:

PCMS Aimee Lutze Cadiente

PCMS Marlon Ordonia

PSMS Arturo Gordo Jr.

PMSg Arnold Cabacang

PSSg Ramil Ramosa

PSSg Raul Francisco Jr.

PSSg Brande Esquillon

PCpl Bryan Ed Peñaflor

PCpl Jaykarl Laurio

PCpl Eddie Edwin Diaz

PCpl Tracy Silagan

PCpl Jake Salesa

Pat Ronnel Goco

Pat Marlon Estropigan

Par Errol Montopar

Pat Geral Casyao

Pat Jhonar Cris Bernadas

Gordo and Cabacang also received  the Wounded Personnel Medal (Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting) for sustaining injuries during the defense of their station.

Around 50 NPA rebels attacked the Victoria Municipal Police Station before dawn on March 28 but the police learned of the attack beforehand and positioned themselves on the rooftop of the building, which PNP chief General Oscar Abayalde praised as a good vantage point in a firefight.

The clash led to the death of three NPA rebels and the arrest of one of their members. /cbb