Earthquake victim wants to be a cop

EMERSON Esto of Inabanga, Bohol is among the many who lost their homes when a powerful earthquake struck Central Visayas last October.

Like most victims, Esto also wanted to bounce back. Almost two months after the tragedy, Esto took a quantum leap to achieve his goal of rebuilding his house for his family — he joined the police force.

Esto is one of the 284 new police recruits who took their oaths of office yesterday at Police Regional Office (PRO-7) in Camp Sergio Osmeña.

“I want to rebuild our house,” Emerson told Cebu Daily News.

His father, Narciso, witnessed the oath-taking ceremony.

Of the 284 police trainees, 65 are female. They were immediately taken to the Regional Training School in Consolacion town to undergo a six-month basic police training course.

Another candidate policeman, Petlowell Disquitado, 28, of Lapu-lapu City is an engineering graduate. He finds the police service more stable than practicing his profession. His elder sister is in the force. Disquitado also said he wants to serve and protect the people and the community.

Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), urged the recruits to be diligent in their profession. Constantino warned them that it is hard to enter the police service and they can easily be dismissed if they commit wrongdoings.

The new policemen have the rank of PO1 and have to pass the training in order to get a permanent appointment./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON