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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo honored this year’s 10 awardees of the Search for the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS) in ceremonies at the Malacañang Palace. The awardees were Police Superintendent Dionardo B. Carlos, Police Superintendent Eliseo D. Cruz, Police Chief Inspector Alden B. Delvo, Police Superintendent Eric E. Noble, Senior Police Officer 1 Gaudencio N. Callo, Senior Police Officer 4 Baltazar Q. Carillo, Police Officer 3 Manuela P. Cueto, Police Officer 3 Arturo D. Melchor, Jr., Senior Police Officer 2 Danilo R. Nazareno, and Police Officer 2 Sherill G. Ybañez.
Each awardee received a trophy and a P250,000 cash prize from the Metrobank Foundation. During her brief, impromptu speech, President Arroyo also instructed Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Jesus Verzosa to prepare a budget proposal for the recruitment of 10,000 new cops that will patrol the streets to increase public service. "It is important for our citizens to feel safe and secure in their houses and neighborhoods," President Arroyo said. Now on its seventh year, the Search for COPS is an annual project implemented by the Metrobank Foundation, PSBank, and the Rotary Club of New Manila East in coordination with the PNP. The award, which aims to recognize the shared responsibility between the police and the community, is given to exemplary men and women of the police force who are able to work with the community in preventing and solving crime. “PSBank is privileged to be part of this noteworthy program that inspires change. The Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service is a program that is close to our hearts because it upholds the virtues that we also work hard to live up to everyday – integrity, professionalism, and dedication,” PSBank president Pascual M. Garcia III said. “There are countless policemen and women who silently yet consistently practice the virtues of integrity, honesty, and selfless service everyday. They never get tired of doing good even if no one is watching, even if no one knows the great difference they make in our lives. They choose to follow that inner voice that helps them to be upright models and guardians of the communities they serve.” This year, the Search for COPS received 109 nominations nationwide, the highest turnout in its history. The nominees went through a rigorous selection process that includes documentation of achievements, background check, and panel interview by a distinguished board of judges representing various sectors of society. After the top 10 finalists were chosen, their names were cleared by concerned government agencies to ensure that only the police force’s cream of the crop is chosen as COPS awardees. The 2009 Search for COPS final board of judges, chaired by Supreme Court Associate Justice Renato C. Corona, included Masbate Representative Rizalina Seachon-Lanete; Cainta, Rizal Mayor Ramon A. Ilagan; Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Dr. Alfonso A. Uy; Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila president Atty. Adel A. Tamano; Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist retired Major General Ramon J. Farolan Jr.; 1997 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Community Leadership and Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Mission President Sr. Eva Fidela C. Maamo, SPC, MD; and Philippine Association of National Advertisers president and Advertising Board of the Philippines chairperson Charmaine V. Canillas. Justice Corona admitted that his perception of the police changed after his interaction with the COPS finalists. “It was gratifying to realize that there are still so many police officers who are very idealistic, honorable, and imbued with a deep love of country,” he said. Another judge, Sr. Eva Fidela Maamo, SPC, MD, president of the Foundation of Our Lady of Peace and 1997 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Community Leadership, said that the police rescued her father when he was kidnapped in the 1970s. “What touched me the most was that the police asked my mother to take care of their families in case they die during the rescue,” she said. Fortunately, the policemen successfully intercepted the kidnappers and rescued Sr. Eva's father.
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In Service of the Community 
