The Police Regional Office-6 honored the outstanding policemen in Western Visayas during its recent 30th Foundation Day Celebration at Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City.
Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda, PRO-6 director, led the ceremony, with the theme “PNP @30 Kakampi mo Laban sa Pandemya, Iligal na Droga, Kurapsyon at Terorismo.”
Lawyer Joseph Celis, director of the National Police Commission-6, who was the guest speaker, as the guest of honor.
Celis lauded the awardees for risking their lives in the performance of their duties and functions as police officers.
He also reminded the police personnel to never forget the value of integrity and honor. “Serve the people with heart, never be tempted by material things,” Celis told the policemen.
The Medalya ng Kagalingan was conferred on Lt. Col. Nasser Canja, 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company commander, SSgt. John Daniel Gotera, P/Cpl. Eric Lopez Mariquit, in recognition of their arrest of fugitive Roberto Pandacan, who is facing murder and frustrated murder charges, in Brgy. San Isidro, Toboso, Negros Occidental on Jan. 14 this year;
Major Rene Obregon Jr., PEMS Rex Tabuada and SSG Jan Mikel Mahometano of Special Operation Unit and Iloilo City Police Station 2 for the arrest of Melbert Ariete and 31 others and the recovery of P326,216 bet money and billiard accessories on Jan. 15 at Brgy. Burgos, Lapaz, Iloilo City;
Captain Paul Vincent Pendon, SSg Frederick Fronda and CPl Jessmar Iwarata of the Bacolod City Drug Enforcement Unit for the successful buy-bust operation that led to the arrest of Robert Colinco and Richard Briones and recovery of eight sachets of suspected shabu weighing 24.822 grams, and a .22 caliber revolver and drug paraphernalia on December 11, 2020 at Brgy. Bata, Bacolod City;
Lt. Larry John Vidal, SSg Junest Suatin and CPl Arjerey Valencia of Oton Municipal Police Station for the buy-bust operation which resulted to the arrest of Elmer Niquia and the recovery of eight sachets of suspected shabu weighing 199.734 grams, P20,000 buy-bust money, and drug paraphernalia on January 21 at Botda Village, Brgy. Buray, Oton, Iloilo.
Meanwhile, during the program, Pendon, one of the awardees, proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Hazel Joy Grate.*
