COPS 2013: Serving justice, empowering the community

MANILA, Philippines - Having served in various regions throughout the country, the awardees from the commissioned officers category are Police Superintendent Edgar Alan Omas Okubo (Quezon City), Police Chief Inspector Carlo Magno Mercado Manuel (Manila), Police Senior Inspector Arlan Lim Delumpines (Zamboanga City), and Police Inspector Margienett Terano Yosores (Cebu).

The awardees for the non-commissioned officers category are Senior Police Officer 1 Edgardo Abastar Figuracion II (Zamboanga del Sur), Senior Police Officer 1 Raquel Ramos Aniwasal (Batangas), Senior Police Officer 4 Teofilo Siao Juanata, Jr. (Pangasinan), Senior Police Officer 2 Oscar Morales Angeles, Jr. (Marikina City), Senior Police Officer 2 Rodito Torrevillas Viovicente (Lapu-Lapu City) and Senior Police Officer 1 Eduardo De Guzman Covarrubias (Zamboanga City). 

“Annually conferred to the best and most dedicated and champions of community mobilization in the PNP, this award is an expression of the civilian sector’s appreciation of the police’s commitment to maintaining peace and order in our country,” said Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña.

Out of 153 nominations from all over the country, the highest in the 11-year history of the search for COPS, 20 were short listed for the final judging and interview, and among them, ten emerged as the 2013 country’s outstanding police officers.

Though they have served in different regions, the outstanding police officers share the common belief that community participation is vital in establishing peace and order in their area of jurisdiction.

PSupt. Edgar Alan Okubo initiated a project called “Hotline Calling Card” that culled information from the public and resulted in the arrest of drug lords and seizure of drugs. He also spearheaded the project “Pulis at Mag-aaral Kontra Krimen” which mobilized students in Tayabo, San Jose City to help report drug pushers in the area. In Misamis Occidental, he brought together different sectors of the community for spiritual sharing, which eventually helped win the hearts and mind of communist insurgents in the area.

Okubo says his greatest motivation is to see that the PNP is respected by the community for its efficiency in crime solving and prevention.

As a member of the police force’s health service, SPO1 Edgardo Figuracion II plays an active role in community outreach programs, especially in medical missions. Like his fellow outstanding cops, he is willing to go beyond the call of duty to ensure the safety of his community. He was responsible for the arrest of suspects connected to the Kuratong Baleleng group.

SPO2 Rodito Viovicente has likewise apprehended criminals, including those on the most wanted list, by harnessing citizen intelligence. Through the Junior Police and Parents Brigade, he was able to mobilize students, teachers, and parents in Lapu-Lapu City as partners in crime prevention. He also formed the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Scuba Diving Group that conducts underwater and coastal clean-ups, and has worked with the Department of Education on a series of symposia in public and private schools on crime prevention and environmental protection.

Viovicente believes that his projects that have changed the opinion and behavior of the people are his greatest contribution to the community.

SPO2 Oscar Angeles Jr. considers community involvement and participation his biggest contribution to the police force. He spearheaded the Cops in School program, a crime prevention and awareness campaign that informs students of the projects of the Marikina Police and encourages them to stay away from illegal drugs.

Angeles also reaches out to the community through the radio program “Pulis Bayani Ka sa Puso Ko“ on dzBF.

The two female awardees strive to empower the citizens, especially women, under their jurisdiction.

PInsp. Margienett Yosores prides herself in bringing the community closer to the police force. As officer-in-charge of the Women and Children Protection Desk, Yosores was instrumental in the apprehension of several foreign nationals responsible for cases of child abuse and gang rape. She created the Bantay Banay group and Child Protect Movement to serve as watchdog organizations on child abuse and violence against women.

SPO1 Raquel Aniwasal, who also serves the Women and Children Protection Desk, empowered members of the community through the installation of women’s desks in the barangays and schools. She continuously conducts training on responding to women and children cases.

Another way that the outstanding cops have made their communities safer is by ensuring that criminals are kept off the streets. Many of them have put their own safety at risk to be able to apprehend their suspects.

PCInsp. Carlo Magno Manuel received the Medalya ng Kadakilaan for his eradication of illegal loggers and smugglers during his stint in Basilan. He was also conferred the award of Presidential Streamer and Medalya ng Kadakilaan for the rescue of Father Cirilo Nacorda from the Moro National Liberation Front. Despite his many triumphs on the field, his 22 years of service continues – he believes the community deserves more of him.

Like Manuel, PCInsp. Arlan Delumpines has also made the country safer. Under his leadership, many sought after gun-for-hire groups, armed robbers, and gangs across Zamboanga have seen life behind bars.

SPO4 Teofilo Juanata Jr., the longest-serving among the awardees with 25 years of service under his belt, was awarded as the Best Senior PNCO of the Year in 2011. As lead arresting officer in Ilocos, CARAGA, and Central Mindanao, he has captured criminals on the most wanted list. As a police officer, Juanata says his main source of fulfillment is to see justice being served to victims of heinous crimes.

SPO1 Eduardo Covarrubias was awarded the Medalyang Sugatang Magiting when he was wounded in pursuit of armed suspects in Zamboanga. Aside from risking life and limb to catch suspects, Covarrubias also established an Adopt-a-School program in Culianan Elementary School in Zamboanga and is an advocate of the Community Immersion Program, which aims to increase interaction between the police and the people. Proving that outstanding service runs in the family, Covarrubias’ father was one of the Metrobank Foundation’s Outstanding Soliders in 2000.

The Final Board of Judges who selected this year’s outstanding cops was co-chaired by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and chairman Francisco Duque III of the Civil Service Commission. Rep. Niel Tupas, Jr. served as vice chairman with Bataan Governor Albert Garcia, Philippine Daily Inquirer president Alexandra Prieto-Romualdez, Lina Group of Companies chairman Alberto Lina, and SGV Foundation chairman and president Cirilo Noel.

 Hon. Jose Manuel Mamauag of the Commission on Human Rights led the Preliminary Board of Judges for the Police Commissioned Officers, along with Rudiger Falcis II, OIC/director of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Officers; Monsignor Joselito Asis, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines; Lilian de Leon, executive director of the League of Municipalities; Col. Alejandro Escaño (Ret), president of the MFI Foundation; Dante Jimenez, president and founding chairman of Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption; Alfred Dalizon of the Journal Group; and Jan Escosio, president of the PNP Press Corps Reporter. The Preliminary Board of Judges for the Police Non-Commissioned Officers were: Luisa Agamata, head of the CSC Honor Awards Secretariat of the Civil Service Commission, Anthony Nuyda, head of the Internal Audit Service of the Department of the Interior and Local Government; Jeffrey Tarayao, president of One Meralco Foundation; and Henry Omaga-Diaz of dzMM.

The Country’s Outstanding Police Officers in Service were awarded on Sept. 5 together with the winners of the Search for Outstanding Teachers and The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers as one of the highlights of Metrobank’s anniversary celebration.

Each winner received a cash prize of P300,000 and a specially designed trophy from the Metrobank Foundation.

During the panel interview of this year’s finalists, PSBank president Vicente Cuna, Jr. expressed: “I think all of us need models because they give us something to aspire for. The Search for COPS made me feel hopeful, invigorated, energized and involved in something bigger than myself.”