A recipient of the prestigious Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS), PO3 Edilberto B. Euraoba III, has returned to Negros Oriental Wednesday after the awarding ceremonies scheduled Aug 31 at Malacañang Palace was postponed to a still unknown date.{{more}}
According to Euraoba in a text message, the organizers of the COPS award apparently don’t want the awarding to be shrouded by controversies and after-effects arising from the Rizal Park hostage crisis that ended in a bloodbath.
Euraoba is assigned to the CMO section of the Philippine National Police provincial office of Negros Oriental.
The COPS award, established in 2003, is a joint undertaking of the Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of Manila East, to give due recognition to deserving men and women of the Philippine National Police.
Euraoba disclosed that he was invited as guest speaker at two radio stations in Metro Manila, and while he tried to stick to talking about the COPS award, many times he was asked about his views on the hostage-taking that left eight Hongkong tourists and the hostage-taker, an ex-police officer, dead.
Other recipients of this year’s COPS award are Superintendent Leo Francisco of DIPO-Northern Luzon, Superintendent Florencio Ortilla of Davao City; Superintendent Noel Ponsaran of Davao City; Superintendent Sidney Villaflor of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija; 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.
Each awardee receives a cash prize of P250,000 and a trophy. (PNA)