President Noynoy Aquino on Friday presented awards and decorations to PNP Units and personnel for their outstanding achievements during the celebration of the 113th Police Service Anniversary at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. He was joined by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas and PNP Chief, Police Director General Alan L Purisima. Awarded was the Bohol Police Provincial Office, “for having the most notable accomplishments in the field of disaster rescue and relief operations.” Accepting the award in behalf of all police officers in Bohol was Bohol PNP director Col. Dennis P. Agustin. In a statement, Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, chief of the PNP-Public Information Office, said the PNP celebrates August 8 as Police Service Anniversary in commemoration of the joint founding anniversaries of the Insular Constabulary established in 1901 and the Integrated National Police organized in 1975, both forerunner organizations of the PNP.

The 113th Police Service Anniversary is celebrated with the theme: “Pulisya Kaagapay ang Mamamayan para sa Patuloy na Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran.” Leading the awardees was Police Deputy Director General Felipe L. Rojas Jr., the Deputy Chief PNP for Administration, who received a Plaque of Recognition for outstanding achievement in the field of Police Administration. Rojas was cited for his management and supervision from the preparation until the execution of the 34th ASEANAPOL Conference, where the PNP earned accolades from the Chief of National Police of the ASEAN, held on May 12-16, 2014 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Manila. Sindac said that also to be cited is Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director, Police Director Benjamin B. Magalong, to receive a Plaque of Recognition for outstanding achievement in the field of Criminal Investigation. Magalong was cited for leading the CIDG in cleansing its ranks to ease out misfits within the organization, made various innovations to enhance the competence of crime investigators, and initiated various investigations that led to high profile police operations which earned positive response from the public.

Meanwhile, the police unit awardees are following:

Police Regional Office 9, for outstanding achievements in the campaign against threat groups; Anti-Cybercrime Group, for outstanding achievements in the campaign against Transnational Crimes; Regional Public Safety Battalion Cordillera and Zamboanga City Public Safety Company, for outstanding achievements in the campaign against threat groups; Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, for outstanding achievements in the campaign against wanted persons; and Crime Laboratory Group and Cagayan Police Provincial Office, for outstanding achievements in the solution of major crimes.

For the individual awardees are:

PSupt Lambert A. Suerte, from Police Regional Office Cordillera, for his outstanding individual achievement in the field of police operations; PCInsp Juanito B. Gaces, from the Directorate for Information and Communication Technology Management and PO2 Crissandra B. Aggabao, from PRO 2, for their outstanding individual achievement in the field of general support; and SPO1 Dominador M. Canlas, from Police Regional Office 3, for his outstanding individual achievement in the field of police intelligence. President Aquino also presented Special Awards to: Abra Police Provincial Office, for having the most significant accomplishments in the campaign against private armed groups neutralized; President Roxas Municipal Police Station, for the successful campaign in internal security operations by repelling the attack of more or less 100 armed bandits on May 20, 2014; and Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force, for its significant achievements in effectively neutralizing drug trafficking syndicates operating in the country. (PNA)