MANILA -- Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Saturday expressed hope that Filipinos would be inspired by the heroism and bravery exhibited by two police officers who protected students from a grenade explosion inside a college campus in Initao, Misamis Oriental.
Andanar made the statement as he hailed President Rodrigo Duterte for the posthumous conferment of the Order of Lapu-Lapu, rank of Magalong, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Medal of Valor on slain Police Senior Master Sgt. Jason Magno.
He also lauded the President’s awarding of the Order of Lapu-Lapu, rank of Kampilan to Police Master Sgt. Alice Balido who was wounded during the grenade explosion.
“Their (Magno and Balido) selfless acts of heroism and bravery so they could protect the civilians went above and beyond the call of duty. It is something that is worth remembering and emulating by our other police officers,” Andanar said.
Magno died on November 28 after he covered the grenade that the suspect, Ebrahim Basher, attempted to throw in the vicinity of the Initao College campus in Jampason village in Misamis Oriental.
Magno’s partner in the scene, Balido, was the one who shot the suspect.
On Thursday, Duterte visited Magno’s wake in Misamis Oriental to posthumously award the Magalong Medal and PNP Valor of Medal to the hero cop.
He also visited Balido to personally bestow the Kampilan Medal.
The Magalong Medal is awarded to a person who rendered extraordinary service or made exceptional contributions to the success of the President’s campaign or advocacy, while the Kampilan Medal is given to a person who was seriously wounded or suffered a great loss of property as a result of his direct participation in the President’s campaign or advocacy.
Meanwhile, the PNP Medal of Valor is the highest award recognizing any police personnel who performed a “deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty so conspicuously as to distinguish him above his comrades.”
Andanar called on his fellow Filipinos to take Magno and Balido’s actions as a reminder that anyone can protect the country in his or her “own way.”
“Guided by the courage and bravery displayed by both Magno and Balido, may we all be inspired to collectively promote safety and security in our country,” he added. (PNA)
