MANILA — A son of a Filipina domestic helper working in Spain was named the topnotcher of this year’s roster of new cadets from the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) who will be joining the police force soon.
Topping PNPA Maragtas (Magiting At Responsableng Alagad ng Batas na Gagabay sa Transpormasyong Alay sa Bayang Sinilangan) Class of 2018’s order of merit is 24-year-old Police Cadet Fritz John Napalinga Vallador, of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. He will receive the coveted Presidential Kampilan Award and a Plaque of Merit from President Rodrigo Duterte.
Speaking to reporters, Vallador explained that he had to live with his aunt while his mother worked abroad after his father walked out on the family when they were young.
Graduating second is Police Cadet Francis Pang-ay Fagkang, 24, of Sacasacan, Sadanga, Mt. Province. He will receive the Vice Presidential Kampilan Award and a plaque of merit from Vice President Leni Robredo.
Police Cadet Jess Torres Agustin of Anchokey, Kabayan, Benguet will receive the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG) Kampilan Award and plaque of merit for graduating 3rd in the order of merit.
Other graduating cadets in the top 10 are Police Cadet Jesstony Fabro Asanion from Barangay Bulawon, Sta. Cruz, Zambales (4th); Fire Cadet Myrick Aquino Paldingan from Mankayan, Benguet (5th); Police Cadet Christian Villacarlos Juego from Barangay Salawag, Dasmariñas, Cavite (6th); Police Cadet Cherry Mae Lumogda Montaño from Barangay Fatima, General Santos City (7th); Police Cadet Stephen Torrevillas Abrica from Basak, San Nicolas, Cebu City (8th); Jail Cadet Arjay Marcaida Cuasay from Barangay Marcelo, Parañaque City (9th); and Police Cadet Maricar Sison Ansus from Barangay Salvacion, Bacon, Sorsogon City (10th).
Philippine National Police Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa said eight of the top ten cadets will be joining the elite Special Action Force (SAF) upon their graduation.
The cadets will be conferred the degree of Bachelor of Science in Public Safety (BSPS) upon graduation and will be appointed to the initial rank of Inspector in their respective service bureaus.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte will induct 106 members of the “Maragtas” Class of 2018 as Commissioned Officers in the police, jail and fire service bureaus at the 2018 PNPA graduation rites on March 23 in Camp Gen. Mariano N. Castaneda in Silang, Cavite.
Seventy-six graduating cadets will join the Philippine National Police, while 13 will serve in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and 17 in the Bureau of Fire Protection.
The PNPA MARAGTAS Class of 2018 is composed of 79 males and 27 female graduates. (Benjamin Pulta/PNA)
