National Capital Region Police Office Chief Director Carmelo Valmoria officially retired from the police force on Wednesday, after more than 37 years in service.
Supt. Anne Mangelen, public information officer of the NCRPO, said retirement honors were held for Valmoria a day before he was set to reach the age of retirement of 56.
Mangelen said pending the announcement of the next NCRPO chief, the deputy regional director for administration, Chief Supt. Allen Bantolo, would act as officer-in-charge of the 18,000-strong police force.
In his retirement honors at the NCRPO Grandstand in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, Valmoria said he retired from the service “proud and fulfilled” because he knew he has “done (his) best while still in the active service to instill discipline” in the “men and women” of the NCRPO and to “ensure utmost safety services to the people.”
“For me, this country is worth dying for. As I do so, I want you to follow the same path of discipline, integrity and leadership that has served me in good stead through the years,” he said, addressing the men and women of the organization in attendance.
He urged them to “be proud” of being members of the PNP, and reminded them that “nobody can just wear this uniform.”
“With these I salute you and thank you for the wonderful and truthful years of service,” he said.
Apart from the NCRPO personnel, the Batch 82 Philippine Military Academy graduate also thanked God, President Aquino, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, among others, who he said have given him the chance to serve.
“This was a journey of service filled with lessons and experiences I will forever treasure in my life,” he said.
Roxas thanked Valmoria for his “bravery, trustworthiness, steadfastness to duty and honor.”
He recalled how Valmoria, whom he met during the Zamboanga siege in 2013, always “took leadership on the ground.”
“He put himself on the line with his men…He was a true leader, looking out for the welfare of his men and keeping an eye on his mission,” Roxas said.
He said Valmoria also “showed his leadership and capacity for different kind of action” when he led the Philippine National Police’s “fortified anti-criminality effort” in the National Capital Region in the form of Oplan Lambat-Sibat.
“Today…in short, roughly 600 of our kababayans are not victims every week because of the work of the NCRPO, the entire PNP,” he said.
“This is not the end, Mel. That flag that you have saluted, loved, served is in your heart … And so Mel, I give you my snappy salute … a decent man who did right by his country and served his people,” Roxas added.