The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 recognized police personnel who served as members of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in relation to the 2022 Philippine Commemoration of the International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers on May 30, 2022 which coincided with the Flag Raising Ceremony at Camp Gen Martin Teofilo B Delgado, Iloilo City.
According to Police Colonel Martin E Defensor Jr., PRO-6 Deputy Regional Director for Operations, the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is celebrated in the 29th day of May to recognize the service and sacrifices of all peacekeepers since 1948 and to honor the more than 4, 000 peacekeepers who lost their lives in pursuit of international peace.
This year’s theme is “People Peace Progress: The Power of Partnerships.”
The personnel who received the certificate recognizing their invaluable contribution to the PNP UN Peacekeeping Operations were:
1) Police Colonel (PCOL) Martin E Defensor Jr;
2) PCOL Pablito B Asmod Jr;
3) PCOL Rhea E Santos;
4) PCOL Lea Rose B Peña; and
5) Police Lieutenant Colonel Kim P Legada.
Meanwhile, the PRO-6 also awarded the Medalya ng Kagalingan or the PNP Medal of Merit to Police Captain Romulo Patrick B Santiago and Police Corporal Aljon Arcayos of Aklan Police Provincial Office for the successful buy-bust operation on August 23, 2021 at the beachfront of Asya Premier, Sitio Cagba, Barangay Manoc-manoc, Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.
The same award was received by the following:
-Police Captain Gregg Anthony V Salbang and Police Staff Sergeant Steve U Ubalubao members of Ivisan Municipal Police Station for successful implementation of a warrant which resulted to the arrest of Kim Carlo Barres Capos and Jhon Rey Macario Esmolada for the crime of rape on July 7, 2021 at Poblacion Norte, Ivisan, Capiz; and
-Police Lieutenant Felice S Dioso and Police Senior Master Sergeant Julius H Combong of New Lucena Municipal Police Station for the successful implementation of an arrest warrant against three rape suspects on May 4, 2021 at Poblacion, New Lucena, Iloilo.
The Medalya ng Papuri or the PNP Commendation Medal were awarded to Police Lieutenant Jojo Arcilla Octavo and Police Corporal Martin Valdevieso of Ajuy Municipal Police Station for the successful arrest of a murder suspect on May 13, 2021 at Barangay Antonio, Ajuy, Iloilo.
Being a former UN peacekeeper, PCOL Defensor Jr said that, “the deployments gave us an opportune chance to learn and apply them in our local peacekeeping endeavors.”
Moreover, the Western Visayas top cop, Police Brigadier General Flynn E Dongbo, a UN veteran also, shared his experiences of his deployment abroad and encourages all PRO6 personnel to apply if there are vacancies for personal and career growth.
Based on records, 25 personnel had served as UN peacekeepers, including 23 Police Commissioned Officers and two 2 Police Non-Commissioned Officers.
Police Brigadier General Dongbo led the activity, awarding, recognition and pinning of the medals.
Also, present during the activity were the PRO-6 Command Group, Regional and Special Staff and Chiefs of Regional Support Units.
