Wearing a police badge is her duty. Breaking boundaries is a legacy she hopes to carve. 

Like other police officers, Lt. Col. Sharon Fabros went through stringent trainings, which were both demanding physically and mentally. Her limits were tested when she had to submerge in mud, climb mountains barefoot, and confront fears she never though she could overcome.

But for Sharon, quitting was never an option. Her mantra has always been, “If others can do it, I can too.”

“Takot ako sa mga palaka, ewan ko kung paano ko na-overcome yung fear ko. Hindi ako nag-give up kasi when I was still young, ginagawa ko talaga yung makakaya ko to be the best kasi iniisip ko, kung kaya nila, kaya ko rin,” she said.

Sharon knew she had to push harder and move forward, not only to survive but to prove that women belong in a place like the Philippine National Police.

Sharon wants to challenge the notion that men lead and women follow. She believes that with determination, women can also stand out and excel.

“Gusto kong i-prove na hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon puro lalaki kasi may equality na naman tayo ngayon. Pare-pareho tayong human beings. May mga weaknesses and strengths. Natural naman talaga na malakas ang mga lalaki pero hindi rin naman pahuhuli ang mga babae sa ibang aspeto ng buhay,” she said.

Sharon said strength is not just physical. It is also about being patient, determined, dedicated, and attentive to details – qualities she believes women should possess to contribute to the police work.

“Ang babae kasi symbol ng peace. Nami-minimize yung kaguluhan na naidudulot ng di pagkakaunawaan kapag babae ang namamagitan,” Sharon added.

In an environment dominated by men, Sharon said women must have a strong personality because without strength, their voices are at risk of being unheard.

SCIENCE MEETS JUSTICE

Sharon never thought she would wear a police uniform one day. Her dream was always to become a doctor. After graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Medical Technology, she was on track to pursue medicine. However, life took a different turn when her father passed away.

As the eldest child, as a wife, and as a mother, she had to step up.

Her husband’s family, which has members in the PNP, encouraged her to join the organization. She did so out of interest and curiosity.

“I wanted to experience a different field. Curious din ako kung ano ang ginagawa nila dito,” Sharon said.

Eventually, that interest and curiosity led her to the PNP Forensic Group, an environment so familiar to her because it allowed her to be surrounded by people from the medical field like chemists, medical technologists, among others. There, she was reunited with the world she knew but in a different context: solving crimes.

Working in forensics, Sharon became part of the team that processed pieces of evidence recovered from crime scenes. She analyzed and examined evidence, and helped build cases – roles she performed to help victims of crime get justice.

 LEADERSHIP IS INFLUENCE

Over time, Sharon rose through the ranks – from leading forensic units in provinces and districts, where most of her subordinates were men and older than her, to becoming an assistant regional chief in the National Capital Region (NCR), at present.

She said she never felt discriminated against as a woman and, instead, found an open door to prove her worth and capability as a leader.

“Para sa akin, ang leadership is na-influence natin ang ibang tao to become better versions of themselves and productive citizens ng bansa,” she said.

Her journey in the organization also mirrors a shift in society. From a time when women were seen as inferior to men and expected to stay in the background, Sharon now stands at the forefront where she leads and mentors other police officers and students with knowledge and skills she obtained from trainings she participated in the Philippines and abroad.

Sharon continues to advocate for equality and respect in the PNP, something she said are non-negotiable.

“Kailangan natin igalang ang ating mga kasamahan ano man ang katayuan sa buhay. Respeto lang bilang kapatid sa serbisyo,” she said.

 FULFILLMENT

At home, Sharon’s work badge takes a backseat for her four boys. Like many women today, she performs dual roles as a leader at work and a homemaker.

She said her inspiration in doing the things she does every day has always been her family and her faith.

“Yung mga anak ko talaga and si God dahil nandito tayo to serve Him, and to glorify Him by doing good to other people, and gusto ko din makatulong sa ating bansa,” Sharon said.

Looking forward, Sharon hopes to see more women enter the police force, especially in forensic work, and for them to excel, stand out, and succeed.

Her advice to young girls: Be resilient. She said life will not always go as planned, and there will be challenges and failures at times, but these are part of the process and are opportunities for one to strive hard. She said God’s blessings come at the right time.

“We should strive hard kasi in the end, mino-mold tayo ni God into a better person and, eventually, pagdating ng time na hinog na tayo for that goal, ibibigay niya ‘yan sa atin. By that time na makamit na natin ‘yun, we are like diamonds. Ang diamonds are honed by time kaya nagiging makintab na makintab and very precious. Ganoon po tayo dapat,” she said.

While she did not fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor, Sharon found fulfillment in a different calling. Through her work, she has helped people, trained future leaders, and served communities in ways she never once imagined.

“Dati, gusto ko maging doctor, pero ngayon, mas na-feel ko fulfilling pala ang pagiging police. At an early age, nagkapag-lead na ako ng mga SOCO teams. Babae ako pinakabata sa kanila pero yung mga aking mga subordinates na karamihan mga lalaki at older than me, lahat sila sumusunod sa akin,” Sharon said.

“Very fulfilling na nakakatulong ka in a simple way. Masarap sa pakiramdam na kahit babae ako, nakatulong ako at nakagawa ng maganda sa mga kababayan ko,” she added.

Fabros proves that in a field where strength is often measured by force, women can redefine what that force can be.