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