Policemen work to achieve peace, while priests advocate peace as well, so it is not surprising at all that Police Superintendent Noel Ponsaran decides to become both to further his advocacy of promoting peace in Mindanao. Beyond wearing two hats, Police Superintendent Ponsaran proves that he is capable of being a competent member of the police force as he is one of this year’s awardees of the Metrobank Foundation Search for Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS).

Like any other priest and police officer, Father Ponsaran travels from one barangay to another – enduring long hours of motorcycle ride and crossing a river five times – to be able to listen to the concerns of the residents and conduct workshop-seminars on conflict transformation and culture of peace.  

“Shepherding is not only confined in the celebration of sacraments, it can also be done through enriching my constituents on how to become credible and effective peacemakers,” said Father Ponsaran who serves as regional chaplain in Police Regional Office 11 in Davao City. 

Determined to perpetuating peace, Father Ponsaran took a step in putting an end to conflicts and clan feuds in his area of assignment. He played a fundamental role in resolving the conflict between the Muslim and Christian communities in Parang, Maguindanao through conducting a dialogue with the elders of Teduray tribe. Likewise, he was instrumental in settling a “rido” or clan feud between two clans in Maguindanao. The feud had brought about several killings in both clans throughout the years, and was resolved through Father Ponsaran’s advocacy on conflict transformation and peace building. 

He also formulated the Sala’am Police, a program that addresses the conflicts in Maguindano by involving the Muslim community, at the ARMM Police Regional Office. Through the program, the Community-Oriented Policing System was contextualized for Muslim communities.  

Indeed, Police Superintendent Ponsaran is a living proof that the Philippines never runs out of exemplary police officers who dedicate their lives to performing their duties efficiently. It is for the same reason that the Metrobank Foundation, Rotary Club of New Manila East and PSBank, continue to honor the best members of the police force through the Search for COPS.  

Aside from Police Superintendent Ponsaran, this year’s COPS awardees are Police Superintendent Leo Francisco of Taguig City; Police Superintendent Florencio Ortilla of Davao City; Police Superintendent Sidney Villaflor of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija; Police Officer 3 Edilberto Euraoba III of Sibulan, Negros Oriental; Police Officer 3 Shella Mae Sangrines of Iloilo City; Police Officer 3 Zoraida Aripin of Zamboanga City;  Police Officer 3 Joey Castillon of Tobias Fornier, Antique; Senior Police Officer 2 Hermie Raymundo of Lingayen, Pangasinan; and Police Officer 3 Roel Paclibar of Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat.            

“These outstanding policemen and women are a testament of our police force’s dedication to their sworn duty and professionalism towards performing their responsibilities,” said Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto “Chito” M. Sobrepeña. “It is through the Search for COPS,” he continued, “that we give honor to the exemplary members of the PNP who have worked together with their communities in crime solution and prevention.”  

From a pool of almost 100 nominees from all over the country, the awardees have gone through a rigorous screening process which involved documents review and a panel interview that was conducted by a board of judges composed of key personalities in the different sectors of the society. The Final Board of Judges was co-chaired by Secretary Leila de Lima of the Department of Justice, who was then Chair of the Commission on Human Rights, and Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo of the Supreme Court, while its members included Dr. Jose Ma. Arsenio Mariano, president of the University of Asia and the Pacific; Atty. Eusebio Tan, president of the Management Association of the Philippines; Atty. Jose Tale, chairman of the Couples for Christ; Paul Schafer, resident representative of the Hanns Seidel Foundation; and Joel Reyes Zobel, a broadcast journalist from Super Radyo DZBB of GMA Network. 

Each awardee will receive a cash prize worth P250,000 and a trophy courtesy of the Metrobank Foundation.  

Now on its eighth year, the Search for COPS is an annual program undertaken by the Metrobank Foundation, Rotary Club of New Manila East and PSBank, in cooperation with the Philippine National Police. With the aim to recognize the shared responsibility between the police and the community, the recognition is given to gallant men and women of the police force who are able to work with the community in preventing and solving crime.