Sotomil, Iloilo Pride: 2012 Ten COPS Awardee

Senior Police Officer 3 Rhia B. Sotomil, a non-commissioned officer of Pavia Police Station made it as one of the 10 "Country's Outstanding Policemen in Service" (COPS) Search in 2012 spearheaded  by Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) and the Rotary Club of New Manila and the PS Bank.

Sotomil, COPS Awardee

She was one of the four policewomen awardees in this "male-dominated competition."

This search is to honor the exemplary members of the Philippine National Police who actively worked with their communities in implementing crime solution and prevention as pointed out by MBFI president Aniceto Sobrepeña.

SPO3 Sotomil was one of the 100 nominees this year, who "have gone through a rigorous screening process which involved documents review and a panel interview by the final board of judges representing different sectors of the society.

She will receive a cash prize of P300,000 and a trophy from the Metrobank Foundation.

The PNP will confer her the Medalya ng Katangi-tanging Gawa, a testament to the exemplary service of COPS awardees to the police force and the country.

COPS Search is now on its 10th year. It seeks to identify gallant men and women of the PNP who are able to work with the community to prevent and solve crime at the same time underscore their commitment to professionalism and dedication to their sworn duty.

The other 9 winners are Supt. Belli B. Tamayo (Quezon City); Chief Insp. Vicente S. Cabatingan (Laguna); Senior Insp. Charity S. Galvez (Butuan City) and Supt. Bernard M. Banac (Quezon City ); P03 Eduardo D. Santiago (Pangasinan); SP03 Renjun O. Bagaman (Koronadal City); PO3 Mary Jane B. Perez (Cotobato City); SPO4 Ma. Rosario Y. Suarez (Davao City); and SPO1 Robert U. Fabregas (Quezon City).

They will be honored on Metrobank's 50 anniversary in September 5, along with the winners of the of the Search for Outstanding Teachers and the Search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers dubbed as the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos.

It was in 2002 that this award-giving body existed. 10 years are more than enough to influence men and women in uniform especially in the PNP. Why are there still "rotten eggs" among the file and rank of the PNP? Are they not aspiring to get this award?

It's so sad to note that peacemakers are troublemakers. Why is it so?

Do you think this kind of award could attract others to be "gallant men and women of the PNP who are able to work with the community to prevent and solve crime at the same time underscore their commitment to professionalism and dedication to their sworn duty."

Why a lady cop like SPO3 Sotomil, a non-comish police officer and the other three like Senior Insp. Charity S. Galvez, PO3 Mary Jane B. Perez, and SPO4 Ma. Rosario Y. Suarez, have made it compared to men in uniform in PNP?

By the way, I salute the gallantry and the courage of Senior Inspector Charity S. Galvez who defended her station from the aggression of lawless group of men sometime in July 2011.

With update from Edgar Siscar of ILOILO UPDATE