Bato gives 2 brave cops ‘kagalingan, sugatang magiting’ awards

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday recognized two police officers, including the Manila policeman who risked the safety of his wife and child to catch a street robber.

During the flag-raising ceremony, PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa bestowed the Medalya ng Kagalingan (Medal of Merit) on Police Officer 2 Mel Bautista and Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting (Wounded Personnel Medal) to Police Officer 1 Gester Verzosa.

Bautista, who was described as the epitome of a police officer who is "willing to risk everything" was off-duty when he chased a street robber while riding a motorcycle with his wife and seven- year-old daughter in Manila.

He was supposed to drop off his wife and daughter when he saw the robber run off with a jeepney passenger's phone. CCTV footage of the incident shows how he maneuvered his motorcycle through traffic and into an alleyway to arrest the robber.

Bautista said he was just doing his job, adding that a policeman should not forget their responsibility as a lawman even if they are off-duty.

"'Kailngan po lagi tayong umaksyon 'pag may mga ganong sitwasyon," he said.

Verzosa, meanwhile, was stabbed by a man identified as Reynaldo Lee which was also caught by a CCTV camera. He is assigned at the Manila Police District Station 7 and was on his way home at the time of the incident.

He suffered a stab wound in the right chest during the attack. Lee died at the hospital.

"Nagpapasalamat ako na buhay pa ako ngayon. Talagang kailangan ko lang protektahan ang sarili ko para sa pamilya ko, kasi kung hindi sa pulis nangyari, siguro kawawa naman yung biktima," Verzosa said in an interview.

"Nagpapasalamat kami na may CCTV kasi 'yun na yung magpapatunay, hindi mo na kailangan sabihin pa. Nakikita na sa CCTV, wala na siyang tanong doon, nandon na lahat, mapapaliwanag," he added.

Police filed a criminal complaint against Verzosa due to the shooting.

Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel said the complaint against Verzosa will be withdrawn.

"A case has been filed against him which is of course the appropriate action to do when the prosecutor in its examination of the facts of the case which showed that it's a justifiable homicide in self defense. So in that case, criminal charges will be dropped against our policeman," he said.

In the press conference after the awarding ceremony, Dela Rosa cited that the PNP has dismissed 398 personnel and punished 1,216 other errant policemen for "various infractions and misbehavior" as well as the arrest of 60 other personnel as part of the PNP internal cleansing.

Meanwhile, he said policemen who are properly performing their duties should be protected by the organization.

He said he would also be willing to sacrifice his life to defend other policemen.

"I will never make my policeman down. 'Pag nakita naman natin na justified yung ginagawa, eh kahit na PO1 lang 'yan, magpakamatay ako diyan 'pag 'yan ay kinakawawa ninyo. Dedepensahan ko 'yan, hindi ko 'yan pababayaan," Dela Rosa said.

The PNP has been criticized for its bloody campaign against illegal drugs since President Rodrigo Duterte was sworn into office in 2016.

Its officials have repeatedly claimed that policemen killed thousands of drug suspects in self defense during legitimate operations. —ALG, GMA News