THE Philippine National Police (PNP) awarded on Monday, September 2, two policemen who helped rescue their fellow passengers when a boat capsized in the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait in August.

PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde conferred the PNP Heroism Medal (Medalya ng Kadakilaan) to Chief Master Sergeant Jonathan Magan who is assigned at San Lorenzo Municipal Police Station in Guimaras and Staff Sergeant Rodito Erpelua of the Western Police Regional Headquarters Support Unit.

Magan and Erpelua were among the passengers of the MB Chi-chi when it capsized in the Iloilo-Guimaras strait on August 3 at about 12:15 p.m.

Albayalde said the two were awarded for “their heroic acts of conspicuous courage above and beyond the call of duty for saving lives of fellow passengers onboard” the said vessel.

Twelve people died in the said incident. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)