PNP gives badges, guns, first pay to 225 new police officers

FRESH graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy received on Tuesday their police badges, service guns and their first pay as Police Inspectors.

Now donning their police uniforms, 225 members of the PNPA Lakandula class of 2015 were given sidearm police badges in a traditional service lunch and Badge of Honor ceremony at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina awarded the new police officers their equipment kits that included a Glock 17, Gen 4 pistol and individual checks of P37,303.54 as their first monthly salary.

“I am expecting from all of you to carry on the same positive attitude that you have exemplified during your schooling and all the trainings you have undergone. All the performance of your duties on the days to come,” Espina said in a speech.

“May you also wisely use the knowledge and skills that you have garnered to continue your mission as part of this organization, which is, please bear this in mind, always bear this in mind, that from this day on until you all retire, it is to serve and serve and protect our people.”

Class president and valedictorian Inspector Dennis Monroid Yuson Jr. from General Santos City also gave a message before the PNP leadership and other “lakan (nobleman)” and “lakambini (noblewoman).”

In an interview after the ceremony, Espina stressed that police badges should be always worn “with honor in service to our country.”

“Otherwise we don’t have any right to wear it,” he said.

Other members of the Lakandula, which stands for Lahing Kayumanggi na Handang Ialay sa Bayan ang Dugo at Lakas, class have been commissioned as Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Bureau of Fire Protection officers.

Of the 247 graduates, 10 officers joined the BJMP while 11 others opted to serve at the BFP. AC