In the quest to mold dedicated public safety officers who will serve the country with honor and accountability, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urges the cadets at Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) to live up to the example and heroism of the PNPA alumni who were part of Special Action Force (SAF) 44.
Speaking during the testimonial parade and honors at PNPA, Camp Castañeda, Silang, Cavite, Saturday, DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo M. Año cited five PNPA upperclassmen who were members of SAF 44 and who gave up their lives in the service of the Filipino people.
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PSI Cyrus Paleyan Anniban of
“Who would forget the sacrifices of our SAF 44 heroes,” Año said. “Against all odds, and up to their last breath, they stood true to the lofty ideals of leadership and heroism.”
Año said that as future public safety leaders, the PNPA cadets have to internalize every lesson that each day and experience has to offer to prepare them well for the rigorous world of malice and temptation which has already become the new norm in their line of work.
“Strive to be firm and stand by the virtues you have been inculcated here in the halls of PNPA,” Año said. “Wear your uniforms and badges with honor, integrity, and excellence.”
He urged the cadets to study fervently and master the arts and sciences of leadership and to always go back to the Honor Code when they will soon be faced with the delimma of choosing between what is right from what is popular.
The DILG OIC assured the PNPA of his support to the institution through the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) headed by PDir Gen Ricardo F. De Leon.
Remembering hero PNPA alumni
In addition to the SAF 44 heroes, Año also talked about two more PNPA upperclassmen who gave up their life in the performance of their avowed duties.
He cited PSupt Ranie Planilla Hachuela, Class 1997, a Medal of Valor awardee who lead a small group of policemen in a nine-hour gun battle against the numerically superior MILF rebels in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte on May 4, 2003.
The DILG OIC Secretary also mentioned PSUPT Arthur Masongsong of Class 1997 who was recently admired by no less than Pres. Rodrigo Duterte for fearlessly leading a very critical mission even though he is already a senior officer.
World-class institution
Año said that from its humble beginnings in 1977, the PNPA has already grown into a world class institution with its recentaccreditation of the International Standard Organization (ISO) 9001:2015 by the BRS quality audit team.
He said that the PNPA is now at par with other service academies in Southeast Asia as it now has dormitory buildings which can house over a thousand cadets where it used to be barracks type accomodation.
Likewise, the PNPA has implemented the Standard Learning Package in the Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Program which ensures the quality and efficiency of training and education of the cadets.
“With all these transformations and development, I am optimistic that the future shall unfold a promising Tri-bureau service with you,as the new breed of public safety officers in the 21st Century,” Año said.
The PNPA is directly managed by the PPSC, one of the attached agencies of the DILG.
