SERVICE PERFORMANCE. Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando Uy (seated, far right) speaks with Col. Aaron Mandia, the City Police director, at the City Hall on Tuesday (July 26, 2022). Uy distributed PHP10,000 each as a reward to 21 police officers as a result of 'exemplary performance' in responding to a string of crimes in the city. (Photo courtesy of Aicy Soriano/CIO)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Twenty-one police officers of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) on Tuesday received PHP10,000 each as a reward for their “exemplary performance.”
Mayor Rolando Uy said the cash reward came from his pocket to show appreciation for how the COCPO managed to resolve some criminal cases by apprehending the suspects or filing the charges.
The rewards were given at the City Hall with Col. Aaron Mandia, COCPO director, leading the 21 police personnel.
Among the 21 were Cpl. Jayson Abesamis and Pat. Jay Ain Bundulan, who were both wounded in a hostage-taking incident last week.
Lt. Col. Surki Sereñas, COCPO deputy director for operations, said other police awardees include the police who responded to the rape-slay incident in Barangay Lapasan, where two suspects were charged.
“This also included the arrest of a suspected scammer who allegedly carted away PHP1.2 million worth of payments, as he posed as a fake agent of the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development),” Sereñas said in a statement.
He said the local police also collected 69 unlicensed ammunition and firearms under the “Armas Baylo Bugas” program between April and mid-July this year, where individuals surrendered their firearms to the COCPO in exchange for sacks of rice.
Uy earlier said if the city government's budget would allow, he would add PHP2,000 in monthly allowance to the police force.
“You deserve it as you wear those (police) uniforms, and have kept its integrity. Most of all, I hope it will inspire the youth to follow (in) your footsteps,” he said. (PNA)
