Vice President Leni Robredo poses with the Top 20 of the PNPA Maragtas Class of 2018 before the graduation ceremony begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018, at Camp Castaneda in Cavite. (Jhoanna Ballaran/INQUIRER.net)
CAMP CASTAÑEDA, Cavite — One hundred six cadets of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) have marched towards the culmination of their four-year extensive training to become formal members of the police force and other uniformed services.
The PNPA Maragtas Class of 2018 graduated from the academy in a ceremony here led by President Rodrigo Duterte and PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Wednesday.
“Maragtas” stands for Magiting at Responsableng Alagad ng Batas na Gagabay sa Transpormasyong Alay sa Bayang Sinilangan.
Of the 106 cadets, 79 were male and 27 were female. After graduation, 76 of them will join the PNP, while 17 will go to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and 13 to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Fritz John Napanalinga Vallador from Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental topped this year’s class.
The 24-year-old Vallador received the Presidential Kampilan Award and Plaque Merit from Duterte, and another Kampilan Award from Dela Rosa.
Vallador was a proud “probinsyano.” According to his profile, he grew up without meeting his father and far from his mother, Anna Marie, who is working in Spain as a domestic helper.
Vallador’s mother was not able to attend his graduation since she was not allowed by his employer to go home to the Philippines.
Instead, his guardian and mother’s bestfriend, Nelia Diocares, went up the stage to bestow him his medal.
In an interview with reporters, Diocares issued this message to Vallador: “We are proud of you. Andyan ka na, ikaw na ‘yan (You made it, make it good).”
READ: OFW’s son from Negros is PNPA valedictorian
The rest of the PNPA Maragtas Class of 2018’s Top 10 were the following:
Police Cadet Francis Pang-ay Fagkang (Sadanga, Mt. Province);
Police Cadet Jess Torres Agustin (Kabayan, Benguet);
Police Cadet Jesstony Fabro Asanion (Sta Cruz, Zambales);
Fire Cadet Myrick Aquino Paldingan (Mankayan, Benguet);
Police Cadet Christian Villacarlos Juego (Dasmariñas City, Cavite);
Police Cadet Cherry Mae Lumogda Montaño (General Santos City);
Police Cadet Stephen Torrevillas Abrica (Cebu City);
Jail Cadet Arjay Marcaida Cuasay (Parañaque City); and
Police Cadet Maricar Sison Ansus (Sorsogon City)
The graduates were conferred with Bachelor of Science in Public Safety, and automatically appointed to the initial rank of Inspector. /kga