MANILA, Philippines—As rogue policemen hog the headlines, some are actually doing good jobs and are being recognized by a private sector foundation for simply staying true to their mandate—to serve and protect.
This was highlighted during the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) for the Bayaning Pulis Foundation, Inc.
THE PNP and PCCI sign an agreement for more assistance for dependents of policemen killed in the line of duty. FROM TWITTER ACCOUNT OF PNP CHIEF GEN. GUILLERMO ELEAZAR
The foundation, which was launched in 2020, is a non-profit charitable organization that provides educational aid to children and dependents of police heroes who died in the line of duty.
Modern hero cops’ kids, dependents to receive educational aid
At the event held in the morning of Wednesday (June 2), the foundation along with the PNP and PCCI awarded educational assistance to the dependents of 22 police officers who lost their lives or were permanently incapacitated while fulfilling their duties.
Among the first batch of beneficiaries were the children of the following policemen:
- Capt. Casey Guttierez (Health Service), a police doctor who died of massive pulmonary embolism caused by the inhalation of a solution that he used while decontaminating the doffing area of the Ultra Quarantine Facility in Pasig City on May 24, 2020.
PNP chief asks DOH to lead probe into doctor’s death from chemical exposure - Lt. Armand Melad (NCRPO) who was killed on June 21, 2020 in gunfight in Paranaque City during the implementation of the General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
Cop, drug suspect dead in Parañaque shootout - SSgt. Marlon Francisco (PNP REGION 3) who lost his life in an armed encounter while rescuing a kidnap victim on June 6, 2017 in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija.
- MSgt. Conrado Cabigao Jr. (PNP REGION 4), killed during a buy-bust operation on June 29,2019 in Rizal province.
- SSgt. Richard Esguerra (PNP REGION 1), an intelligence operative of Infanta police station who died from gunshot wounds while providing route security.
Driver dies; owners of gunmen’s cars traced - MSgt. Eduardo Argonza (PRO2) who was shot dead in January 2018.
Policeman shot dead in Isabela - MSgt. Raymond Robles (PNP REGION 4B) who was killed in February 2019 while trying to reinforce Army soldiers battling at least 20 NPA rebels in Occidental Mindoro.
- MSgt. Sotero Javier (PNP REGION 5), who died in a clash with communist guerrillas at a remote village in Bato town, Camarines Sur while conducting an intelligence operation.
2 policemen dead in clash with NPA in CamSur town - Patrolman Joey Cuarteros (PRO5), slain in a clash with NPA guerillas in Camarines Norte on March 19, 2021.
Cop slain in clash with NPA hailed as hero in Tuguegarao funeral - MSgt. Antonio Broce (PNP REGION 6), who died in a shooting in September 2018 in Negros Occidental province
- MSgt. Jesael Nacheta (PNP REGON 7) who was among the fatalities in an ambush in Negros Oriental province in 2019.
PNP blames NPA for NegOr ambush that killed six cops, injured 4 others
- Patrolman John Herbert Pingol (PNP REGION 10), who was slain in a clash with communist guerrillas in July 2017.
- SSgt. Wilfredo Garol Jr. (PNP REGION 11) who died in a Davao City gunfight.
- Maj. Joan Resurreccion (PNP REGION 12), who was killed during a hot pursuit operation in Cotabato in 2020.
Cotabato town police chief dies while hunting suspects in shooting incident - Patrolman Romero Solana (PNP REGION 12) who was abducted by NPA members in 2016 during an intelligence operation. According to PNP, his remains were recovered on Sept. 3, 2016 at Barangay Lumangkob, Kidapawan City.
- MSgt. Reil Morgado (PNP REGION 13), who was killed during a gunfight in Agusan del Norte on Dec. 13, 2018.
Cop dies fighting off NPA kidnap try in Agusan del Norte
- Cpl. Marloun Casil (PROCOR), who died while in a hot pursuit operation on April 2, 2019 for those behind a bomb attack in Mountain Province.
- SSgt. Nurkahim Muallam (PNP BANGSAMORO REGION) who was killed in an armed encounter with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Talipao, Sulu in 2018
- SSgt. Alexis Mangaldan (SAF), one of the Special Action Farce (SAF) troopers who was killed in a Marawi gunfight in 2017.
SAF remembers fallen troopers in memorial day - SSgt. Fernan Canuda (PNP REGION 8) who was shot while serving a warrant of arrest on a murder suspect in Leyte in 2020.
Cop killed in police team’s failed bid to arrest wanted man in Leyte - SSgt. Larry Balasbas (PNP REGION 9) who was also killed while serving a warrant of arrest in Zamboanga City.
- MSgt. Jason Magno, one of the policemen who died after he used his body to cover a grenade to lessen casualties at Initao College in Cotabato in 2019.
Cop who saved villagers from blast hailed as hero
According to Ambassador Benedicto Yujico, PCCI president and chair of the Bayaning Pulis Foundation, the educational assistance aims to “cushion the damages,” the losses suffered by dependents of the policemen, who died or suffered serious wounds in the line of duty.
“I hope that we remember that our fallen heroes are not just policemen, but they are also fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and breadwinners,” he said at the event.
“We hope to fulfill the dreams they had for their sons and daughters,” he added.
Yujico added that aside from providing educational grants to the dependents, retired police officers can also receive livelihood assistance.
“PCCI, [which is] comprised mostly of MSMEs, continue to encourage pursuing entrepreneurship,” he said.
“This is precisely why we are working on a development program that will provide livelihood to retired police officers so that they can start small businesses on their own as well,” Yujico said.
He said the PCCI was planning to introduce the foundation and its activities to the provinces soon.
“We want this to be institutionalized and we want the whole country to know [about the foundation. [W]e want the whole police force to know that we appreciate the service they are doing for this country,” Yujico said.
‘Rotten eggs’
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, who was present at the event, thanked the foundation which he said will serve as a motivation and inspiration for policemen “to gain back the trust and confidence” of the public and restore the dignity of being a law enforcer.
Citing the recent crime involving a cop, who killed a 52-year-old woman in Quezon City last Monday (May 31), Eleazar said that the public is losing its trust for policemen because of some “few rotten eggs” in the force.
‘Drunk’ cop arrested after shooting woman dead in QC
“It is sad that with recent events, just like yesterday, we saw that we have colleagues…a few rotten eggs in the organization..that because of that single act, it erodes the trust and confidence of our people,” Eleazar said in Filipino.
“We can’t blame our countrymen who are losing trust in the PNP,” he said. “Just because of those few individuals. That is why our constant call to our policemen is to disown those rotten eggs in our organization,” Eleazar said.
According to data from the PNP released in October 2020, there was a total of 15,768 police personnel who have been penalized for administrative offenses and criminal activities since 2016.
Over 15,000 PNP personnel penalized for offenses
COVID cases
As of Wednesday, June 2, the PNP recorded one new case of COVID-19 bringing the total number of infections to 24,253.
The PNP health service currently has 1,650 active cases, 22,536 recoveries, and 67 deaths.
PNP logs 1 new COVID-19 death; 143 new cases
TSB