Senior Insp. Maricris Mulat juggles many caps—that of a mother, a chief of police in Misamis Oriental province, and now as one of the country’s outstanding police officers.
A mother of two, Mulat was adjudged one of the Metrobank Foundation 10 Country’s Outstanding Police Officers in Service (COPS), along with three other officials and six noncommissioned officers.
A Philippine National Police veteran of 16 years, she is the chief of police in Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental province, a rare feat for female officers in an organization struggling to combat a negative image.
“I hope other policewomen are empowered with this, that we are not limited by our being women. We can also do risky and complicated things to address our community’s needs,” Mulat said in an interview on Monday.
Mulat has led in various operations against mining violators, child abuse, human trafficking, illegal drugs and car theft.
Empower policewomen
“I am very happy and proud to be a police officer. I hope to inspire and empower other policewomen in the PNP to do our best. We can do whatever our male counterparts can do to contribute to the PNP,” she said.
“We were poor but I was able to send my children, siblings and relatives to school. In return, I always do my best so that the PNP won’t be ashamed of me,” Mulat said.
Other awardees
The other awardees were no lightweights either—all, official or not, were at the top of their game in fulfilling their duties as public servants:
— Senior Supt. Marlo Meneses, the acting provincial director of Albay province, was recognized, among others, for his drive against illegal drugs and wanted criminals. A graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy, he entered the PNP 29 years ago and was also deployed in two United Nations missions in 2005 and 2009.
— Senior Supt. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, proposed a command policy on the relief of police chiefs, or the “blue book” which assesses commanders on various areas of responsibility. He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and has been with the PNP for 29 years. He is currently the deputy regional director for operation in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and has been previously assigned to the Aviation Security Group, the Taguig City police station.
— Senior Supt. Valfrie Tabian is also a PMA alumnus and had years of experience as an intelligence officer in northern Luzon, taking over a New People’s Army camp there. He used to be the chief directorial staff of the Police Community Relations Group and is now the deputy director for operations in Central Visayas.
— SPO1 Aurora Joy Manuela, a policewoman for 13 years, is the chief clerk of the Ilocos Norte police strategy management unit and has had experience in intelligence work against rebels and criminals. Outside of intelligence work, Manuela also helps with the police community relations programs and the local government unit’s anticrime initiatives.
— SPO3 Dino Sagayo has been a policeman for 18 years and is the investigation chief of the La Trinidad police station in Benguet province, where he has helped convict suspects in robbery, kidnapping, rape and murder cases. He also enlisted the help of parents in the community by developing the Parents Ronda Program, which involves parents implementing a liquor ban and curfew for minors in three barangays (villages).
— SPO2 Dominador Canlas, an intelligence operative of the Tarlac police provincial office, has helped dismantle robbery gangs, “shabu” laboratories and even terrorist cells. Born and raised in Tarlac City, he has served his home province ever since he entered the PNP 36 years ago.
— PO2 Mary Catherine Demontaño, a police community relations officer of the Buenavista police station in Guimaras, is the only Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer in the province. Her work in cases of violence against women and children, as well as human trafficking, has helped her arrest and build cases against perpetrators.