PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Monday praised two of his men who showed real good deeds, one of them risking his life to save a young boy in Santa, Ilocos Sur from drowning and the other leading a team of policemen who walked for hours in the rugged terrains of Cordillera region just to carry a sick pregnant woman to a hospital in Mountain Province.

“Saludo ako rito sa dalawang pulis na ito na parehong handing sumagip ng buhay at magbigay ng serbisyo sa kapwa,” an elated PNP chief said in referring to Police Master Sergeant Gilbert Andulay of the Police Regional Office 1 and Staff Sgt. Darel Bacwadang of the Cordillera Police Regional Office.

“Ang pagiging pulis ay walang pinipiling oras o lugar. Kung may nangangailangan ng aming tulong, kami po ay handang tumugon,” Gen. Eleazar assured.

The PNP chief said that MSgt. Andulay was already off-duty when he showed that heroism is in the core of every policeman. This after the cop assigned with the 103rdManeuver Company of the PRO1 Regional Mobile Force Battalion under Brigadier Gen. Emmanuel B. Peralta was caught on video performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a child who drowned in Barangay Magsaysay, Santa last May 30.

It turned out that Andulay, who was off-duty on that day, was about to visit his friend when someone approached him and sought his help to save the child. He immediately responded to the incident and saved the child.

Andulay is presently one of the policemen manning the Narvacan, Ilocos Sur-Abra boundary Quarantine Control Point.

SSgt. Bacwadang led a team of officers from the Natonin Municipal Police Station in Mountain Province in helping a pregnant woman in distress be brought to the nearest hospital thru ‘fulig’ or a makeshift stretcher.

According to the Police-Community Affairs and Development Group of the Cordillera police headed by Brigadier Gen. Ronald O. Lee, ‘fulig’ is the manner of lifting a sick person who needs to be brought to the hospital thru the use of a makeshift stretcher fashioned out from a blanket and a bamboo pole or pipe.

The practice is mostly done in remote, mountainous areas in the region.

Gen. Eleazar said that it turned out that members of the Natonin police force were in the middle of their flag ceremony during the celebration of the country’s Independence Day last Friday when they received a call about a pregnant woman who needed to be taken to the hospital.

A team of policemen led by SSgt. Bacwadang immediately proceeded to Sitio Batnong in Bgy. Banawal which can only be reached by walking for about an hour since its terrain is not passable to any type of vehicle.

Upon arriving at the pregnant woman’s residence, the team of Bacwadang, joined by some local residents carried the pregnant woman through ‘fulig’ and walked again for more or less an hour to reach the vehicle that would take the pregnant woman in distress to the hospital.

The woman was successfully brought to the Anastacia Rafael Sagel Memorial Hospital in Bgy. Poblacion, Natonin where she received medical treatment.

Gen. Eleazar commended SSG Bacwadang and members of his team for their selfless act of genuine public service.

“Ipinakita lamang po ni PSSgt. Bacwadang at mga kasama nito na ang pulis na tunay at tapat sa serbisyo ay hindi napapagod sa pagresponde sa nangangailangan ng tulong. Sana ay tularan sila ng ibang pulis sa bilis rumesponde sa oras ng pangangailangan,” he said.

The PNP chief called on all police officers to emulate Andulay and the team of Bacwadang and all the other cops who have shown or are still showing what being part of the PNP truly means: genuine public service and heroism.

Gen. Eleazar said that policemen who demonstrate genuine public service beyond duty should serve as reminders for other PNP personnel why they truly joined the police organization.

He added that the group of policemen will be given appropriate awards in recognition of their dedication and passion for police service .

“Tandaan natin kung bakit tayo nangarap magpulis at nagsikap maging pulis. Ito ay upang magbigay ng tapat na serbisyo publiko dahil likas sa bawat isa sa atin ang maging matulungin sa kapwa at sagipin ang mga nangangailangan ng saklolo,” the PNP chief pointed out.