The teacher is now a cop

MANY are called but few are chosen, that’s what Chief Inspector Angel Sumagaysay, the newly-installed commander of the Toril Police Station, believes even as he was still aspiring to be a policeman.

Sumagaysay was a high school teacher at Notre Dame of Dadiangas Boys Department for three years before joining the police force, but even before that, he had long wanted to be a man in uniform.

"Ever since I was young I wanted to become a soldier. And because of that, I resigned as a teacher though hindi ko alam kung anong mangyayari after ko iwanan yung pagtuturo," Sumagaysay said.

He resigned from his teaching job and entered the Philippine Constabulary in 1986.

It was a slow and tedious trek up the ranks starting as a non commissioned officer of the 458th Philippine Constabulary Company in Davao Oriental in 1986.

He was assigned as non-commissioned officer of the Regional Special Training Committee in Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 at Camp Catitipan in Davao City the following year and was returned to the 458th Company in 1988, this time in Operation and Intelligence still as a non-commissioned officer.

In 1990, after he completed his schooling as policeman, he earned the rank of Senior Police Officer 1 and was assigned as an officer in Intel Operatives of the Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office (Doppo).

In 1997, he entered National Police College in Fort Bonifacio in 1997 which led to his designation as Police Inspector in 2000, during which he was assigned as intelligence secretary of the Doppo.

In 2001, Sumagaysay was assigned as deputy group director of the 1105th Police Provincial Mobile Group in East Coast of Davao Oriental.

He stayed on in Davao Oriental but this time as chief of the Baganga Police Station in 2002.

He got his promotion as Senior Inspector in 2004 and was assigned as group director of the 1105th Police Provincial Mobile Group in East Coast of Davao Oriental before being assigned again as police chief of Baganga.

In 2009, Sumagaysay was assigned as an operation officer of the Doppo and, at the same time, as group director of the 1106th Police Provincial Group for six months.

In 2010, he underwent another Philippine National Police (PNP) schooling, which again earned him the rank of Chief Inspector the following year.

His first assignment as chief inspector was as deputy chief of the San Pedro Police Station in Davao City.

Sumagaysay is presently taking his Masters in Public Administration at Ateneo de Davao University. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety (BSPS) from the police academy.

It is really a dream come true for me. Hindi man ako napabilang sa AFP, but I was given a chance to be part of the PNP. I am really happy and contented with what I have now. I can say na wala na akong ibang mahihiling pa," Sumagaysay said.

Despite the heavy responsibilities on his shoulders, Sumagaysay is proud to attend to the concerns of the public, as his work will always be his priority.