For notable efforts, women cops lauded
INSP. Sheryl Bautista is at the forefront in the campaign against human trafficking in Central Visayas.
With only three years in police service, Bautista scored against this social menace by rescuing women and children and arresting traffickers.
She is the deputy chief of Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (RAHTTF) of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7.
Yesterday, her efforts were recognized, along with five other policewomen, who have contributed in governance and peacekeeping.
“I’m just carrying my responsibilities for the tasks that I was given. I’m happy that my efforts were acknowledged,” Bautista told Sun.Star Cebu.
She was awarded with Medalya ng Kagalingan (PNP Medal of Merit) by Sen. Pia Cayetano, who attended the recognition rites at Camp Sergio Osmeña yesterday morning. The recognition was done in line with the 2014 National Women’s Month.
Cayetano, in her speech, expressed gratitude to the policewomen involved in nation-building.
“In all studies, women are the most vulnerable in society in armed conflict and disasters. That’s why it’s important to have women in the police because it’s different from the experiences of men,” she told reporters.
Cayetano is the chair of the House committee on youth, women and family relations.
The five awardees were Senior Insp. Marylou Cuizon; Insp. Margienett Yosores; Insp. Jeciree Saquilabon; Insp. Arieza Otida and SPO1 Ruth Violango.
Cuizon, of the Police Community Relations Division of PRO 7, is vital in the actualization of family juvenile and gender sensitivity programs and PRO 7’s Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE).
Yosores, on the other hand, is one of the winners of 2013’s Metrobank Foundation’s nationwide search for the country’s police officers in service. She is assigned in the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).
Saquilabon, of Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO), contributed to the solution of crimes involving women and children in their province.
Otida and Violango, both detailed at the Cebu City Police Office, were selected last January as two of the top ten most outstanding policewomen in the country.
Meanwhile, local government units in Cebu also celebrated Women’s Month.
Overseas Workers’ Welfare Association Administrator Carmel Dimzon, who signed an agreement with Capitol yesterday, spoke before local officials.
Magpale said they will be joining different LGUs in observing Women’s month, citing Talisay’s observance of the International Women’s Day last Saturday and Cebu Normal University’s activity yesterday.
Heda Largo, Gender and Development implementing officer and Provincial Women’s Commission consultant, said they will be attending celebrations in different LGUs.
To cap the celebration, Magpale said,there will be a Cebu Provincial Women’s Congress on March 29.
Dimzon was here yesterday for the MOA signing between Capitol and OWWA on a cash-for-work program for overseas contract workers’ (OFW) families.
Since the number of women OFW’s now surpassed the men, gender sensitivity programs are enforced, specifically for domestic helpers. Welfare officers in the Middle East now are also women, she said.