Welcome our police heroes!

HEROES’ WELCOME --- Police troopers who figured in the liberation of Marawi city from ISIS-inspired local terror groups return to their base in Parang, Maguindanao where they were reunited with their loved ones and pinned medals for gallantry. (Photo by PRO-ARMM)

The Police Regional Office in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao   accorded with a “Heroes Welcome” last October 24 the 205 PRO-ARMM troopers who have been deployed in Marawi City for five months since the onset of Marawi siege.

The troops are led by Police Senior Superintendent Rolando B Anduyan, Deputy Regional Director for Administration, PRO ARMM.

They were awarded with ‘’Medalya ng Kadakilaan’’ by the newly installed regional director of PRO-ARMM, Chief Superintendent Graciano J. Mijares, at Camp Brigadier General Salipada K. Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao.

Senior Superintendent Anduyan and his troops were among the first who had been deployed in Marawi City to help the Armed Forces of the Philippines in liberating the city after the Maute local terrorist and Abu Sayyaf group tried to take over the city last May 23.

Their services yielded numerous accomplishments such as the successful liberation of Amai Pakpak Medical Center; rescue of  78 hostages, the recovery of the cadavers of PSI Freddie N. Solar and two  others on May 24, 2017; arrest of Omita Romato Maute aka Farhana and 13 others on June 9; recovery of some nine kilograms of shabu; filing of criminal charges against 366  identified members of the local terrorist group of LTG to include Omita Romato Maute aka Farhana and her 13 companions for violation of Article 134 ‘’Rebellion’’ in relation to 136 RPC and RA 9851; recovery of  units of assorted caliber of firearms and several rounds of ammunition during the conduct of offensive and clearing operations; neutralization of 18 LTGs, eight sniper kills, and 10 confirmed kills;

Successful rescue of five female teachers of Dansalan College and three st. Mary’s Church Parish workers and other nine males on October 3; successful completion of the offensive and clearing operations of the areas of JTG-VECTOR/JTG PNP on October 8; rescue of JessaI Panes on October 14; rescue of Jenilita Libot-Libot on October 15; rescue of 18 civilian hostages on October 16 and 21 civilians hostages on October 19 wherein nine were children; recovery of 118 cadavers and skeletal remains; disposal of 184 unexploded ordnance or UXO and 109 improvised explosive devices; filing of eight  criminal charges against the LTG-Maute suspects of the crime of rebellion and other crimes; extension of  medical assistance to 292 PNP personnel and 861 AFP personnel who needed medical attention; and clearing of 264 buildings.

The troops had also painstakingly contributed significant intelligence information which are vital in the neutralization of Isnilon Hapilon aka ‘’Amirol Am’’ and Omarkhayam Maute aka ‘’Ustadz Omar’’ and several LTG members on October 16.

Further, Police Senior Superintendent Rolando B Anduyan and Police Superintendent Danny A. Bacas are both awarded with ‘’Gold Cross’’ medals for their gallantry in action during the five-month Marawi Siege. (PNP PRO-ARMM FACEBOOK)

Gold Cross Medal

LANAO DEL SUR --- Four policemen and 23 soldiers were awarded the Gold Cross medals for gallantry in fighting Maute and Abu Sayyaf gunmen in Marawi City.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr. of the Western Mindanao Command told this contributing media partner  via mobile phone last October 24 that Senior Superintendent Rolando Anduyan and Superintendent Danny Bacas deserve the medals for putting their lives on the line in helping soldiers fight Maute and Abu Sayyaf gunmen for five months.

Anduyan is assistant director for administration of Police Regional Office - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao while Bacas is chief of the ARMM's Police Intelligence Division.

Galvez also awarded Gold Cross medals to Senior Inspector Seth Mark Alob and Police Officer 3 Isah Sangcad.

The symbolic medal pinning rite was held in Marawi City, witnessed by officers of Task Force Marawi and commanders of different military and police units that fought Maute and Abu Sayyaf gunmen.

“These police officers have exemplified courage under pressure and dedication to service in very dangerous, difficult moments,” Galvez said.

“The Western Mindanao Command is thankful to both of them and to all other policemen from across the ARMM and from other parts of the country who helped restore law and order in Marawi City,” Galvez said.

Both Mindanaons, Anduyan and Bacas, born and raised in Iligan City and in Maguindanao, respectively, led PRO-ARMM’s Regional Public Safety Battalion supporting military units since the trouble in Marawi City started last May 23.

Superintendent Ebra Moxsir, chief of the Marawi City Police, said  that morale in their ranks soared immediately when they learned that Westmincom will award Anduyan and Bacas with Gold Cross medals.

“That was more than enough recognition of our share in the sacrifices for the liberation of Marawi City from very misguided religious extremists,” said Moxsir, an Islamic theologian.

Moxsir was designated Marawi City police chief in July for him to lead religious programs meant to counter the recruitment activities of the Maute terror group.

Galvez said among the laudable law enforcement feats of Anduyan and Bacas at the height of the Marawi siege was the arrest in June in Masiu town in Lanao del Sur of Ominta Farhana Romato-Maute, mother of siblings Omar and Abdullah Maute.

She was intercepted by a team led by Anduyan and Bacas, acting on tips from vigilant Maranaos, while escaping from Masiu to another town on board a private vehicle.

Omar and Abdullah, who both studied in Islamic schools in Syria and Jordan, founded the Maute terror group.

        The group, which uses the flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria as its revolutionary banner, first emerged in 2014 in Butig town in Lanao del Sur, hometown of their now detained mother.

Chief Superintendent  Graciano Mijares, director of PRO-ARMM, said he is thankful to Galvez for his tacit acknowledgement of how police units helped defeat Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists who laid siege to Marawi City.

The PRO-ARMM deployed hundreds of battle-ready policemen to Marawi City within two hours after Maute and Abu Sayyaf gunmen showed force and displayed the ISIS flag in strategic areas there on May 23.

Six members of the PRO-ARMM were killed while 61 others were injured in clashes that ensued in the next four months as a consequence of the attack.

“Seeing our men cited for serving country and people is heart-rending. It’s a morale booster for us, for police personnel in all parts of the region,” Mijares said.

Besides the four policemen, Galvez also pinned Gold Cross medals in the same event to 23 soldiers from the 2nd and 3rd Scout Ranger Battalions and the 10th Infantry Battalion. (CONTRIBUTED BY MEDIA PARTNER – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)