TWO police officers in Cebu were named as part of the 2021 batch of Metrobank Foundation’s outstanding Filipinos Friday, Aug. 6, 2021.
Senior Master Sergeant Mary Joy B. Ylanan, community relations officer of the Bogo City Police Station, and Lt. Col. Gerard Ace J. Pelare, chief of the Talisay City Police Station, were named the outstanding Filipino police officers for 2021.
The third police officer awarded was Lt. Col. Jonathan P. Pablito, assistant chief of the Regional Police Strategy Management Unit of the Police Regional Office 6 in Iloilo City.
Ylanan and Pelare were recognized for their efforts in the campaign against illegal drugs in a humanitarian manner.
Bogo’s “guardian”
Ylanan, described as “Bogo City’s Guardian of Police Community Relations,” is on the front lines in the pursuit of justice for victims of sexual abuse and human rights violations. Her efforts led to swift arrests of felons guilty of rape and trafficking in persons, the Metrobank Foundation said.
In several cases, she helped rescue women and children from sexual offense and exploitation. She conducted information drives, and encouraged residents to practice vigilance and report suspected infractions of law for prompt investigation and action.
As a police community relations officer, Ylanan also leads the Bogo City Police Station’s information campaign against illegal drugs.
In 2017, her collaboration with the local community paved the way for the city’s achievement of being the first city in Central Visayas declared as “drug-cleared” across all its 29 barangays.
Talisay’s “chief protector”
On the other hand, as Talisay City’s “Police Chief Protector and Counsel,” Pelare paved the way for several pioneering programs.
His Oplan Limpyo, which translates to “clean” in English, is a comprehensive community-based campaign against illegal drugs use and trade. Oplan Limpyo has been instrumental in the arrest of about 2,000 drug personalities without a single human rights violation, and confiscation of more than P100 million worth of illegal drugs.
To win the war on drugs in a humane way, Pelare led his station in feeding children of drug suspects, visiting houses of suspected users and pushers, and building communal toilets.
A lawyer, Pelare instituted legal aid, dubbed “ltanong kay Attorney Tsip,” covering the entire Central Visayas. He has been offering pro bono legal advice and services to uniformed and non-uniformed Philippine National Police personnel as well as indigent families since 2017.
“As a community held together by hope especially during these turbulent times, may we derive inspiration from the awardees’ example,” Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña said.
The Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos is a career-service award for Filipino exemplars in the academe, military and police sectors. For 2021, there are 10 awardees—four teachers, three soldiers and three police officers. Each awardee will receive a cash prize of P1 million each (net of tax), a golden medallion, and “The Flame” trophy during the conferment ceremonies on Sept. 2, 2021, during Metrobank’s 59th anniversary celebration.
The complete list of recipients of the 2021 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Award for Teachers are Lou Sabrina S. Ongkiko of Culiat Elementary School (Quezon City); Jason B. Albaro of Muntinlupa National High School Main (Muntinlupa City); Maria Minerva P. Calimag of the College of Medicine, University of Santo Tomas (City of Manila); and Iris Thiele Isip-Tan of the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila (City of Manila).
Recipients of the 2021 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Award for Soldiers are Technical Sergeant Jake P. Belino of the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) Civil Military Operations Tactical Operations Group 1, Tactical Operations Wing Northern Luzon, (Baguio City); Lt. Col. Elmer M. Boongaling, executive officer, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans, Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio (Taguig City); and Col. Augusto N. Padua, PAF, Executive Officer, Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Operations, Villamor Airbase (Pasay City). (JOB)