TWENTY police officers and personnel of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Zamboanga Peninsula have been awarded the "Medalya ng Kagalingan," as they were cited for the arrest of six suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Zamboanga City.

Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, PRO-Zamboanga Peninsula director, spearheaded the awarding ceremony held on March 19 after the flag-raising ceremony at Camp Abendan in the village of Mercedes.

The awardees were Superintendent Ferjen Torred, Senior Inspector Alan Perpetua, Senior Police Officer (SPO) 2 Glenn Jumbing Pastorfide, SPO1 Henry Cavan and PO2 Irene Balansag who were cited for the arrest of an Abu Sayyaf ember identified as Said Arasid on February 14 in Binuangan, Isabela City, Basilan.

Chief Inspector Hazel Fernandez, SPO3 Eduardo Covarruvias, PO3 Joel De Leon, PO1 Noel Andrade and PO1 Edgar Gaganting, all of the Police Station 4 (Culianan), were cited for the arrest of notorious Abu Sayyaf member Rocco Hamman on February 13 in La Purisima Street, Zone III, Zamboanga City.

Senior Inspector Melvin Solmayor, SPO3 Eric Villon, SPO1 Eric Magoncia, PO1 Ronel Etrone and PO1 Ronnie Jesus Gayagoy were cited for the arrest of another Abu Sayyaf bandit identified as Hood Salvador Abdulla on January 26 in Recodo village, Zamboanga City.

Chief Inspector Al-Reiza Kinang, SPO3 Noel Tenebroso, SPO1 Ronnie Baird, SPO1 Asraf Halipa and PO3 Sali Abel were recognized for the arrest of another Abu Sayyaf member identified as Emran Sanduyugan on January 12 at a shopping mall along La Purisima Street, Zone III, Zamboanga City.

Senior Police Officer 2 Jess Rick Mendoza, SPO1 Ronnie Baird, SPO1 Asraf Halipa, PO3 Sali Abel and PO2 Almonjade Luddin were cited for the arrest of two Abu Sayyaf members -- Susung Salahuddin and Arsid Salahuddin -- on February 15 along Zaragosa Street, Zone IV, Zamboanga City.

Chief Inspector Helenn Galvez, PRO-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, said all the arrested bandits were involved in the June 11, 2001 kidnapping of workers at the Golden Harvest Plantation in Tairan, Lantawan, Basilan.

Beltran commended the awardees for a for a job well done, stressing they should serve as role model to other policemen. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)