Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Col. Ireneo Dalogdog told reporters that they plan to recognize Angyl Faith Ababat, a second year nursing student, for her deeds last Monday, Jan. 30, 2023.
Ababat, who studies nursing at the University of Cebu (UC) Banilad campus, was identified by her school as the one who assisted 54-year-old Bernadeta Zamora.
Zamora was selling mangoes across a commercial building in Plaridel Street, downtown Cebu City on Monday when her live-in-partner, Edwin Salazar, suddenly pulled her and slashed her neck before fleeing.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Feb. 1, UC praised Ababat for quickly responding to Zamora’s situation.
“Faith in humanity restored by one of our nursing students. Kudos! Angyl for the kind deed and genuinity that you showed to people in need,” the UC said.
In the same statement, Ababat said she was hesitant at first to respond to Zamora’s situation as there were students taking pre-medicine and medicine there at that time.
“But no one responded, and when I saw Nanay that she was about to collapse, I thought to myself, if no one would help, then who will? That was why I immediately responded,” Ababat said in Cebuano.
Ababat said she was thankful that her clinical instructors at her university armed her with the basic emergency procedures, especially wound care, which became helpful in that particular situation.
Dalogdog said he wants to honor Ababat during the CCPO’s flag-raising ceremony on Monday, Feb. 6.
“Isip usa ka student, iyaha nang na-practice ang iyang pagka-public servant nga in times of trouble, labi nag naa sa himatayon na ang kadtong tao, wala gyud sya magduha-duha sa pagtabang. So, mao na ang atong mga ugali sa mga Pilipino ba nga ato gyud na-appreciate tungod pagkamatinabangon,” Dalogdog said.
(She acted like a good public servant who, in time of trouble, especially when facing someone who was on the verge of death, never thought twice about helping. That’s a Filipino habit that we appreciate because Filipinos are helpful by nature.)
Aside from giving her a plaque of appreciation, he said they want to make her a role model for putting the lives of others first.
He said he hopes her act will encourage others to help people who are in need.
Suspect charged
As for Salazar, he has been arrested and charged with frustrated murder in relation to Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004.
Major Henry Orbiso, chief of the Waterfront Police Station, said the victim’s relatives have informed them that Zamora’s condition has improved.
Last Monday’s attack was caught on the closed-circuit television camera in the area and has since gone viral on social media. (JKV, AYB / PJB)