3 PNP generals honored for quelling Nov 29 standoff

Three police generals led by Metro Manila Police chief Director Geary Barias and 21 other cops were awarded on Monday morning for their role in quelling the Manila Peninsula takeover last November 29 and solving the Batasan bombing last November 13. Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon J. led the awarding ceremony held past 9 a.m. at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City. Barias, Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Superintendent Luizo Ticman, and PNP Special Action Force (SAF) director Chief Superintendent Leocadio Santiago J. were conferred with the Medalya ng Kabayanihan awards "for their exceptional courage and leadership when the group of Magdalo mutineers led by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim seized the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City," said PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. "The PNP and the DILG fully recognize the excellent supervision and expertise shown by Barias in handling the event and his strong determination to end the crisis that led to the peaceful surrender and arrest of the personalities involved in the Manila Peninsula standoff, including former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr, Bishop Julio Labayen and Bishop Antonio Tobias," Razon said during the ceremony. Pagdilao said Ticman and Santiago were also cited "for their resolute action to end the crisis in an orderly and peaceful manner that had prevented the loss of lives and secured the public from destabilization." Senior Superintendent Roberto Damian of the SAF was given the Medalya ng Kadakilaan "for his remarkable achievement in the Manila Peninsula standoff." For their "remarkable participation in the investigation in the Manila Peninsula standoff," Superintendent Michael Amos Filart and six other personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) were conferred also with Medalya ng Kagalingan. As to the November 13 bombing incident at the House of Representatives, Puno and Razon gave the Medalya ng Katapangan awards to Senior Inspector Agosto Asuncion, PO2 Domingo Robler, PO2 Aldrin Tayaban, PO2 Erwin Bascos, and PO1 Dominic Rosario, all from the SAF unit, "for their conspicuous acts of courage and gallantry in action as members of the assault team during the implementation of the warrant of arrest" against the suspects on November 15 at Payatas, Quezon City. "The serving of warrant turned into minutes of firefight between the SAF and the subject of the warrant that resulted in the neutralization of Abu Jandal, Ridwan Indama, and Saing Indama, and the arrest of three others," Pagdilao said. CIDG-National Capital Region chief Senior Superintendent Asher Dolina was awarded the Medalya ng Kadakilaan "for his exceptional meritorious achievement as overall supervisor of the joint elements of (the police and military) in the implementation of the warrant against Abu Jandal," Pagdilao said. The same award was likewise given to Chief Inspector Hermogenes Cabe, Inspector Bryan Dexter Andulan, and six other troopers from the SAF. In his speech, Puno described the awardees as "fitting exemplification of what a real Mamang Pulis should be, who is "always ready to face danger and offers no room for people who do no not have regard for the rule of law." "Time and again, we have shown the world the stability of our democratic institutions and the strength of this government. Our strong republic is underlined by a strong economy that has the full support of the Filipino people," he said. The key players in the November 13 and November 29 incidents have so far been charged with criminal cases after they were accounted for and detained by police. - GMANews.TV