4 rookie female cops recount encounter with MOA robbers

Four rookie female police officers and members of the Pasay City police Special ‎Reaction Unit were commended by National Capital Region Police Office chief Police Director Carmelo Valmoria, Southern Police District Chief Superintendent Erwin Villacorte, and Pasay City police chief Senior Superintendent Florencio Ortilla. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–‎It might be their first time as female police officers to engage in a gun battle. But the pre-encounter jitters were not enough for them to shirk from a challenge.

Police Officers 1 Juliet Macabadbad, Delia Langpawen, Marcelina Bantiag, and Maricel Rueco pulled off well their first operation–the SM Mall of Asia jewelry heist last Sunday–and their feat earned them their first medals of recognition from the Philippine National Police.

The four police officers, currently assigned with the National Capital Region Police Regional Public Safety Battalion‎ (NCRPO-RPSB), were dispatched to work at the Police Assistance Desk in the Pasay mall.

‎Earlier Wednesday, Police Director Carmelo Valmoria, National Capital Region Police Office chief, lauded the four female police officers for displaying “great courage.”

Macabadbad, Langpawen, Bantiag and Rueco will formally receive medals of recognition from PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima on April 7.

Staying alert

‎The 30-year-old Macababbad said that aside from a glock 17 pistol, she was also armed with presence of mind.

During the hot pursuit, Macababbad recalled that she was three meters close to the suspect, who also pointed a gun at her.

“We were pointing guns at each other. Luckily, I was able to shoot him first,” she said‎.

Macababbad’s partner in the operation, 26-year-old Langpawen, said the secret to a successful operation is maintaining one’s alertness.

“The first time we heard the glass windows break, we quickly placed ourselves both on the entrance and exit of the mall,” Langpawen said.

She stressed that anticipating criminal activities and planning on how to act on it ahead ‎of time helped them respond “within few seconds” to the scene.

‎Asked how did she feel after earning recognition, she said: “Masaya po kami pero mas masaya kami dahil walang nangyari sa amin.”

(We are happy but we are happier that nothing bad happened to us.)

Meanwhile, 25-year-old Rueco and Bantiag, 27, ‎have to make sure of the safety of mall-goers while their female colleagues were shooting it out with the robbers.

“The people did not know where the shots were coming from. They were scattered all over the mall so we herded them into an establishment ‎to protect them,” Bantiag said in Filipino.
‎Speaking in behalf of her fellow “hero cops,” Rueco thanked President Benigno Aquino III for recognizing their efforts.

“Asahan po ninyong gagawin namin ang lahat ng aming makakaya para sa mga taong nangangailangan ng tulong namin,” she said.

(Expect that we will do everything that we can for those who need our help.)

Confidence in police force

Valmoria said they are “still deliberating” what specific honors would be given to the female police officers.

“But definitely, the two might receive Medalya ng Katapangan while the other two will receive ‎Medalya ng Kagalingan, and also the Special Weapons and Tactics members,” he said.

‎”They are the living proof of our dedication to the serbisyong makatotohanan,” Valmoria added.

‎The NCRPO chief also pointed out that they are presenting the accomplishments of their officers “not because they would like to look good to the public.”

“But (we would like the people) to have confidence in the police force,” he continued.

Also recognized were the elements of SWAT or Special Reaction Unit of the Pasay City Police led by Senior Police Officer 3 Renato, Police Officer 3 Gonzales, PO3 Buenaventura, PO3 Cervantes, PO2 Cuaresma, PO2 Magadia, PO1 Dela Cruz.