Monday, July 16, 2007 Before Bogo, he faced, unarmed, 18 tanks By Mia E. Abellana Sun.Star Staff Reporter
FACING an angry mob, or politician, is nothing new to Senior Supt. Carmelo “Mel” Valmoria.
Having served as a United Nations peacekeeper in three countries, he once had to face a foe armed with 18 tanks while he only had one Cambodian interpreter by his side. He also dodged bullets from angry Albanians to rescue 150 people, mostly Serbians, from a burning building in Kosovo.
He also spent time in war-torn Somalia and battled with communist rebels in certain areas of the Philippines.
Despite his experiences, Valmoria narrated these with the calmness he became known for last Monday where angry supporters of Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. stopped him from carrying out an order issued to him by the Commission on Elections.
The father of three girls, Valmoria considers spending time with his family as the best way to relax from the stresses of his job.
Colleagues have nicknamed him “Superman,” saying he is one of the most hardworking police officers in the region, barely sleeping just to prepare security arrangements for big events such as the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and the Southeast Asian Games.
Though often praised, the shy officer does not revel in the attention.
When a Sun.Star Cebu photographer kept snapping photos of him for this interview, he was uneasy and even asked if it was necessary.
The fourth in a brood of eight, Valmoria graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1982.
What made you decide to become a policeman?
Probably because it’s in our blood. The elder brother of my mother, my uncle, was a Korean veteran and he was also connected with the Philippine Army. And during the war, he became a commander of the Filipino guerrilla in Southern Leyte. So probably, it’s in the blood. And also, my father is a retired reserve colonel in the Philippine Army.
Why did you choose to join the PNP? As a PMA graduate, you had the option to join the military.
I opted to join the Philippine National Police because we have that law enforcement authority. I am more inclined to participate in law enforcement because this is very challenging. Especially when you are dealing with people from all walks of life. We are directly dealing with the members of the community.
You served as a UN peacekeeper four times. What made you decide to apply for the program four times? Was once not enough?
I wanted to enhance my policing as well as I wanted also to go to other conflict areas. And the third one, it helped me a lot in improving my living condition because of the mission subsistence allowance that we received from the United Nations, over and above our salary here in the Philippines. And, that is also for professional advancement.
You gained praise for the way you handled the situation in Bogo. Did your past experiences train you for that?
My past experiences both local and abroad. I have been assigned in different areas, places in the Philippines like in Samar, Leyte, Davao, and I also had a short stint in Kalinga Apayao, but it was more on combat operations.
Abroad, like in Cambodia, we were fortunate enough to serve with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia. In fact, General (Ronald) Roderos was my assistant provincial director. He eventually became my provincial director and I was the district commander.
This was when the election in Cambodia was conducted. We had an incident right after the election where the interim government of Cambodia led by Hun Sen did not accept the results of the elections and accused the United Nations of fraud.
Consequently, the province where we, General Roderos and I, were assigned seceded from Cambodia. We were only given 24 hours to leave the province by the UN otherwise they could not assure our security.
So there was one instance where about 18 tanks went to my area. Eighteen tanks! I was alone to talk to the Cambodian soldiers onboard a tank with my interpreter and dissuaded them from occupying the area. But what could I do with 18 tanks? I was unarmed then because we were unarmed in Cambodia.
Out of 17 districts, nine district headquarters of the United Nations were burned down by the Cambodians. This was in 1993.
In Somalia, it was the worst because there was an ongoing civil war. Have you witnessed Black Hawk Down? There was a civil war and we could not get out of the compound. Once we moved outside to go to another area, you would be escorted by tanks.
There was one incident when I was with the police commissioner of Somalia. We went to one province and I was then the logistics officer of the whole of Somalia and the governor said, “If you’re not going to give us our demand, you cannot leave this place.” And of course we were surrounded by his henchmen.
So Bogo was nothing compared to that?
(Smiles) What do you think?
How did your family react with those incidents? Like in Bogo, many were shocked that it happened.
Of course, they were worried but they were also confident that the situation would not get worse because my family is aware of my experience in handling situations.
I also had the opportunity to be a part of a team that rescued 100 Serbians and 50 internationals. The building was burned by the Albanians and whoever would get out of the place, they were fired upon.
So we went into the building, saved the Serbians and the foreigners with the other international policemen from Italy...this was when there was a resumption of hostilities for one week when the Albanians started attacking the Serbians and the UN.
Also, in the service, we were also able to engage in armed encounters with the communist terrorists.
So how did you end up with the nickname Superman?
(Pauses) I don’t know.
But you are aware that some officers in the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 refer to you as Superman?
I heard about it.
Heading a provincial command can be very stressful. What do you like to do on your free time?
To be with my family. Success outside your family cannot in any way compensate for your failure in your family.
What is your greatest achievement?
Being adjudged as the senior police commissioned officer (investigator) nationwide. That was in 1999. I was then the deputy chief of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID) and concurrent chief of the investigation section of the RIID of PRO 7.
What about your greatest downfall?
I want to keep a positive mental attitude.
Is there something you really want to do that you haven’t done yet?
Everything I do is for the organization. I want to institutionalize a system in the organization... whatever I could do to contribute to the police service. If I receive an order right now that I will be relieved, I will always follow legal orders.
