NAGA CITY July 30, 2013 – Presidential Awardee Policewoman PO3 Edlyn Arbo was welcomed with honors at the Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office on Sunday (July 28) during a lunchtime gathering and press conference and later at the flag-raising ceremonies at the Regional Police Office in Legazpi City.
Arbo was one of the three members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who received recognition from President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for meritorious deeds during his recent State of the Nation Address.
Arbo, who has not visited her home town Iriga City for sometime, was presented by PNP Bicol director, Chief Supt. Calarence Guinto, to members of the media at a Sunday noontime press conference at the Camarines Sur police office at Barangay Concepcion Grande in this city.
PO3 Arbo narrated her encounter with a knife-wielding man bigger than her who declared a hold-up in a jeepney she was riding while plying the stretch of Nagtahan bridge in Sta. Mesa Manila in the morning of April 2 this year.
When the suspect tried to grab away her bag, Arbo decided to engage the man in a physical struggle using all strength she could muster to disarm the assailant.
She said she could hear other passengers yelling “Ate, ibigay mo na lang ang bag mo para hindi ka mapahamak.” But she said her pride as a policewoman prevented her from surrendering. At that point , nobody knew she was an off-duty policewoman (assigned at Pasig City PNP).
In the struggle, Arbo sustained a stab wound in her thigh but she was able to take away the man’s bladed weapon, which she used to stab the fleeing suspect in the back. Arbo, bloodied and in pain, chased the suspect in the street while shouting at the crowd to help arrest the suspect. The man was finally immobilized when the crowd caught up with him.
Arbo was unarmed at that time because of a strict election gun ban that prohibited off-duty policemen from carrying their service pistols.
Camarines Sur Police Provincial director, Senior Supt. Ramiro Bausa, honored Arbo before officers and members of the Cam. Sur PPO who were told to draw inspiration from the “heroic deed” of the policewoman as they perform their daily police works.
Arbo was also met by relatives from Iriga City, who has not seen her for a long time and were not even aware that she had joined the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The following day, Arbo spoke before her superiors and colleagues during the Monday flag raising ceremonies at the Bicol Regional Office of the PNP at Camp Ibalon, Legazpi City.
She expressed her gratitude to President Aquino for the honor and the spot promotion given her for something she considers part of her duty as a policewoman.
Expressing sadness that members of the police are involved in some recent controversies, she said: “Nalulungkot din ako pag napupunahan ang ilang miyembro ng kapulisan. Sa aking mga kababayan gusto ko rin ipaalala na sa kabila ng ilang pulis na nalilihis may two hundred thousands pa kami na miyembro ng kapulisan na susuong sa panganib at handang ibuwis ang buhay para ipagtanggol kayo.”
She also shared the honors and recognitions she received with other members of the police whose good deeds have not received media attention.
“Gusto ko rin bigyan pugay and libo libong pulis na nagtatrabaho nang malayo sa publicity ---hindi inaabot ng TV camera at hindi nababanggit sa radio o dyaryo --- mula sa pagtugis ng mga kriminal, sa pagiimbistiga ng mga krimen, sa pagtulong sa mga bata at matanda sa pagtawid ng kalsada, o kahit sa pagtayo-tayo sa mataong mga lugar para katakutan ng masasamang loob...alay ko sainyo ang mga papuri at parangal na ibinibigay sa akin.
“For all the nameless and faceless police men and women out there quietly doing their job, I stand here for you as a proud member of the Philippine National Police,” Arbo said as she concluded her speech. (SONNY SALES)