Napolcom promotes 42 more hero cops in Marawi siege

MARAWI NIGHTMARES The Army General Hospital recorded “between 10 and 12 clear-cut cases” of Army soldiers with PTSD after the five-month battle to regain Marawi City from Maute fighters in 2017. -INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Forty-two more police officers who exhibited outstanding gallantry during the infamous Marawi siege in 2017 have been promoted to their next higher ranks, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) announced on Monday.

Napolcom Vice Chairman Atty. Rogelio Casurao said the Commission en banc has approved eight separate resolutions confirming the special promotion of the latest batch of officers who risked their lives to liberate the Lanao del Sur capital during the five-month-long urban battle against the ISIS-inspired Maute Group.

This brings to 948 the total number of police officers promoted for their exceptional bravery during the siege, which began on May 23 and ended on October 23, 2017.

“Their acts of conspicuous courage, gallantry in action and self-sacrifice clearly manifest their commitment to serve and protect the people and their noteworthy accomplishment earned distinct honor and credit not only for themselves but for the entire police organization as well,” Casurao said in a statement.

Among those promoted were 20 personnel of the PNP Intelligence Group who provided assistance to the PNP Special Action Force in locating their armored vehicle and crew who were trapped upon entering the main battle area, leading to the death of several terrorists and the rescue of many civilians.

Seven members of the PNP Crime Laboratory Office were also granted special promotion for their “high sense of professionalism and commitment to duty” in conducting autopsies on the bodies of slain policemen, soldiers, and civilians, despite security concerns in the main battle area and health hazards caused by the decomposing bodies.

Ten other officers were likewise promoted for risking their lives in conducting anti-carnapping operations and providing security at the entry and exit points of affected thoroughfares to ensure safe passage of operating troops.

The Napolcom also approved the promotion of two more police officers, including one who retrieved a memory card from a drone camera despite heavy gunfire from the enemy’s snipers, and mapped out processed photographs and converted it to grid coordinates of the enemy’s location for coordinated air strikes. The other one was hit by a sniper while conducting perimeter security as member of the blocking force at the main gate of the Provincial Capitol Complex.

Cpl. Daniel Tegwa who delivered a suppressive firing using a .50-caliber heavy machine gun toward an overwhelming number of terrorists, disorganizing them in the process, was also approved by the commission to be promoted.

Cpl. Alex Laurente from the 1st Special Action Battalion, who helped in supplying ammunition to SAF troopers at the frontline advance post, and Pat. Moises Kimayong Jr., who helped evacuate a wounded member of the Scout Ranger Course Class 2015-2016 during a reconnaissance mission, were likewise accorded the promotion.

Edited by JPV