ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) on Monday awarded the “Medalya ng Kagalingan” to 14 policemen for their accomplishments in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and other lawless elements in the region.
Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, PRO-9 information officer, said four of the 14 awardees are officers and the other 10 non-officers assigned with the different units of the regional command.
Galvez said Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, PRO-9 director, led the awarding ceremony held after Monday’s flag ceremony at the parade ground of Camp Col. Romeo Abendan in Barangay Mercedes, this city.
The awardees of the “Medalya ng Kagalingan (PNP Merit Medal)” are Supt. Gilbert Nino Manese, Insp. Kent Gudmalin, and PO3 Joseph Ryan Jalon of the Isabela City Police Station in Basilan province.
Galvez said they were awarded Merit Medal for their operational accomplishment that led to the arrest of an ASG member, Omaidie Salain, on September 6 in Purok Stairway, Barangay Sumagdang, Isabela City.
She said Salain’s name is also included on the list of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) as one of the “contract killers” operating in this city.
The other recipients of the Merit Medal are Chief Insp Al-Reiza Kinang, PO1 Carigold Flora Allado and PO1 Lea Jane Damian of the Regional Intelligence Unit-9, who were cited for the arrest of ASG member, Nasir Daud, on August 23 in Barangay Sta. Barbara, this city.
Galvez said that Daud was among those behind the kidnapping of a businessman in January 2004 in Barangay Pasonanca, this city.
The other awardees are Chief Insp. Heidel Te-elan, SPO1 Roderick Flores and PO2 Noriel Laureta of the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Mobile Company.
They were cited for the arrest of alleged crime syndicate group members Zomar Sabtal and Mukasid Sabtal on September 10 in the seawater of Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay.
The remaining awardees are Senior Insp. Nedzfar Hassan and PO3 Ahmad Mizar Alfad of the 903rd Maneuvering Company of Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9, who were awarded for the successful conduct of intelligence-driven operation that led to the surrender of ASG explosive expert, Jum-Amin Anundun alias Abu Khalifa, on September 5 in Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.
Anundun is a follower of Basilan-based ASG leader Furuji Indama. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
