For a job well done in saving three minors from a cybersex den in Cordova town last year, three police officers were recognized at the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 headquarters last Monday.
Among them was PO2 Lea Juarez of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of the Cebu Provincial Police Office.
Juarez said conducting anti-drug operations was her forte which brought her several commendations in the past for her accomplishments in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Last Monday she received her first Medalya ng Kagalingan for her role in the cybersex raid and rescue operations in Cordova in July 2011.
Chief Supt. Samuel Yordan of the PRO-7 led the ceremony where 15 officers were recognized for different accomplishments.
Two other awardees were Insp. Jonas Tajanlangit, former Cordova police chief, and SPO1 Analiza Comaling also of the PIB who rescued the minors. Juarez applied for the search warrant and conducted surveillance of the target residence.
Juarez said the cybersex raid of a private home in Cordova was less risky than drug operations.
“In drug operations, you have to be vigilant because you will be facing drug personalities. In the cybersex raid in Cordova, we just have to secure the minors so they will not be traumatized,” Juarez told Cebu Daily News.
Last year in a drug operation in Dalaguete town, southern Cebu, one of the subjects of a raid fought back and fired at the police. They were forced to shoot him down.
Juarez, who entered the police service four years ago, said it had always been her dream to be a cop. She earned her criminology degree at the University of Cebu-Main campus.
Juarez said she will continue to work as a police officer as long as she can handle the pressure.
“Just be dedicated to your work,” Juarez said in a message to her fellow policecops.