“Submitting one’s own freewill for the sake of the ultimate public service”
The Year 2022 was indeed very loaded and enormously posed challenges in almost every government agency, as the country faced various natural calamities like typhoons, floodings, earthquakes, and even volcanic eruptions. In fact, the Philippines ranked No. 1 in the World Risk Index 2022 among 193 countries worldwide due to its exposure to many calamities and disasters.
Over time, the nation has proven its remarkable resilience and adaptability to every situation, standing still to its adversaries and finding ways and alternatives to address national issues and concerns through the collective efforts of the different government agencies with the cooperation of its citizenry.
The Philippine National Police has also been religiously taking its part with the government’s initiatives to address those natural calamities, while tirelessly performing its regular duties and responsibilities, consistently bringing outstanding police service to the public despite the adversaries.
On the 9th of January 2023, the Nation’s Peacekeeper held its first Monday Flag Raising Ceremony for the year 2023. The ceremony was highlighted with the presence of Lieutenant General Ernesto C. Torres, Jr, the Commander of the Northern Luzon Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines, as the Guest of Honor and Speaker.
Philippine National Police Chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin, Jr. led in highlighting the occasion together with other PNP Senior Officers and all the Directors of the National Support Units. In his welcome remarks, he urged the entire PNP personnel to acquire and display an enormous amount of courage and compassion to set as benchmark and lead others to be encouraged in doing noteworthy achievements being law enforcers and defenders of our nation.
He also reminded the entire rank to never be afraid to accept challenges relative to their service by using the famous words of a French General and a Statesman, Charles de Gaulle, that says: “Men who adopt the profession of arms submit their own free will to a law of perpetual constraints of their own accord.” This is relative to the appeal of the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Attorney Benhur Abalos, Jr., for the PNP Third Level Officials to submit their respective courtesy resignations as part of the PNP Internal Cleansing Program, with the continuing lists of PNP personnel who, in one way or the other, have engaged with the possession, trade and operation of illegal drugs.
Likewise, Lieutenant General Ernesto C. Torres, Jr, Commander of the Northern Luzon Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines, gave his snappiest salute expressed through his words of encouragement to the entire PNP personnel, to always uphold what is morally upright.
“It is not easy to have and provide a safe environment. So much is at risk, and so many souls are always at risk by the danger of any harm. But with the service of the Philippine National Police personnel who also risk their own lives in order to save others and to maintain the peace and order in our country, we are now living in a safer place than before,” said LtCol Torres.
“Even though, we do good many times for the sake of public service, but sometimes it seems that our good accomplishments will not suffice, and is never recognized, even so, I encourage every one of us to still choose to do good even if no one is watching or listening,” he added.
The awarding of some personnel with significant accomplishments also took place in the said occasion, where nine PNP personnel were awarded with the Medalya ng Kagalingan, in recognition of their outstanding service in the successful conduct of PNP operation that led to the arrest of notorious criminals from their respective Areas of Responsibilities. The awardees are as follows: PLtCol Danilo M. Perez, Police Major Agusto D. Tayaban, Police Executive Master Sergeant Marlon B. Carbonell, Police Staff Sergeant Charlie A. Taguinod, and Patrolman Philip C. Lipaen from PNP Integrity and Monitoring Enforcement Group; and Police Lieutenant Ronnie M. Luna, Police Staff Sergeant James M. Dimacali, Police Corporal Khan G. Manalang and Police Corporal Allen C. Fababier from Police Regional Office 3.
