HONORED guards (from left): Jonathan Pio, Gejohn Juayang, Gil Mata and Marilou Legaspi of Kaizen Security Agency. Photo courtesy of NCRPO PIO
These four security guards, one of them a woman, may now be considered part of “Manila’s Finest,” a moniker traditionally reserved for the city police.
For engaging a group of armed robbers in hand-to-hand combat inside a passenger jeepney, Jonathan Pio, Gejohn Juayang, Gil Mata and Marilou Legaspi were given the Philippine National Police (PNP) Outstanding Conduct medal (Medalya ng Katangi-tanging Asal).
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) held the awarding rites Wednesday for the four members of the Kaizen Security Agency, citing their “heroic act of gallantry” two weeks ago on Rizal Avenue, Manila.
Three of the guards were wounded for thwarting the robbery.
According to the NCRPO, a jeepney was passing through the avenue on the approach to Fugoso Street shortly before 4 a.m. on March 11 when three robbers posing as passengers declared a holdup.
Unfortunately for the robbers, four of their fellow passengers—Pio, Juayang, Mata and Legaspi—refused to be victims and were ready for a fight.
“They bravely fought and engaged the suspects in a brawl, resulting in the arrest of one of the suspects, Jeffrey Tualya Coloma, and the recovery of the stolen items,” the NCRPO’s recognition order read.
Pio, Juayang and Legaspi sustained stab wounds in the head, shoulder and hands. Coloma, who took a beating, initially managed to escape but a witness alerted the police to his location.
Coloma, a member of the Sigue-Sigue Commando gang, was later arrested by members of the Manila Police District’s Sta. Cruz station. The other suspect was identified John Francis Go while the third was reportedly a minor.
The awarding ceremony led by NCRPO Director Carmelo Valmoria was held at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, at the closing of a security meeting between NCRPO officials and mall operators.
“This notable achievement speaks well of (the guards’) strong commitment to the NCRPO’s continuing campaign against all forms of criminality and the maintenance of peace and order in the community, as members of the quasi-police force,” the recognition order read. “Such a laudable feat earned them this distinct honor and credit, not only for themselves but for the noble profession they represent.”