Female cop cited for poll heroism

KORONADAL CITY , Philippines  – The Central Mindanao police command based in nearby General Santos City has awarded a rookie policewoman in North Cotabato for her courage when she protected the equipment and personnel of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during a firefight among armed supporters of mayoral bets in Pikit town last May 10.

In a press statement sent to The STAR, the Central Mindanao police command said its regional director, Chief Superintendent Felicisimo Khu, pinned the Medalya ng Kadakilaan or heroism medal on Police Officer 1 Gerna Garcia during a ceremony held Thursday.

Khu urged other police officers in the entire region to follow the example set by Garcia, who remained at her post despite the firefight outside a polling precinct at the Talitay Elementary School in Pikit town during election day.

Chief Inspector Jomar Alexis Yap, public information officer of the regional police command, said Garcia was at the elementary school securing the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and election materials when supporters of four mayoral candidates suddenly figured in a heated argument.

“The argument turned into a firefight. But Garcia never left her post to hide. Instead, she remained at her post and secured the PCOS machines and other election materials there,” Yap said.

After securing the PCOS machines, Garcia also helped Comelec officers and some voters who hid in the municipal hall while the warring parties were still engaged in a firefight at around 2:45 p.m. on May 10.

“What Garcia did was a true form of courage and a concrete gesture of a police officer to serve and protect the people despite the dangers they would face,” Yap said.

Men of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col. Domingo Gobway and elements of the safety and management unit of the North Cotabato police headed by Inspector Elias Dandan rushed to the area.

Yap said Garcia, along with other government employees, left the school premises with the PCOS machines and several election personnel at around 4:30 p.m.

No voters and election personnel were reported to have been hurt that day, Yap said.