I would like to congratulate the many Outstanding Cavaliers or Philippine Military Academy graduates who were feted by their colleagues during the PMA Alumni Association, Inc. or PMAAAI general membership meeting in Baguio City this week.

Since I started my journalistic career in 1989, I have been friends to hundreds of Cavaliers both in the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces starting from members of PMA Class 1961. Many of them are already retired. Some are dead and some are living.

My latest count showed that in the PNP, there are less than 40 Peemayers still in active service although their number will be further reduced this year with the retirement of the few remaining members of PMA ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989 and PMA ‘Bigkis-Lahi’ Class of 1990.

On Friday, the PMAAAI chaired by my friend, retired Lieutenant General Vidal ‘VQ’ Querol of PMA ‘Maagap’ Class of 1973 led the presentation of awards to outstanding Cavaliers, one of them another dear friend, PNP chief, Gen. Jun Azurin, one of the last four standing products of PMA Class 1989 in the 227,000-strong police force.

Retiring this coming April 24, the country’s 28th top cop and the 1st to be appointed by President Bongbong Marcos as his PNP chief got feted for his outstanding leadership and service to the country.

The proud son of Paniqui, Tarlac who got raised by his parents in La Trinidad, Benguet, Azurin is a seasoned military and police officer who got his first battle experience in the fields of Parang, Maguindanao under the tutelage of one Nick Bartolome, yes, the member of PMA ‘Mapitagan’ Class of 1980 who became a PNP chief from September 2011 to December 2012.

Azurin occupied key positions in other Constabulary and later PNP units including the Aviation Security Group, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Highway Patrol Group, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force and the Maritime Group.

He also held key administrative posts in the PNP Health Service, the Police-Community Relations Group which is now known as the Police-Community Affairs and Development Group and the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management before becoming a Police Regional Office 1 director in Ilocos-Pangasinan region and later PNP Director for Information and Communications Technology Management and PNP Director for Comptrollership.

Azurin is really no stranger to Baguio since apart from graduating from Fort del Pilar, he also used to be a Benguet police provincial director and was also a former Area Police Command-Northern Luzon commander which has supervision over Cordillera, Ilocos-Pangasinan and Cagayan Valley regions. Prior to that, he also served as commander of the APC-Southern Luzon which covers Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol regions.

Known for his KASIMBAYANAN-short for Kapulisan, Simbahan at Pamayanan social program to further reduce crimes in the country, Gen. Azurin received the PMAAAI Outstanding Achievement Award for his exceptional contribution to the country in general and the police force in particular.

The event which had the theme “PMA Cavaliers: Sama-Sama sa Pag-unlad sa Kabila ng Pandemya at Kalamidad” emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation amid the challenges posed by the new normal triggered by the COVID-19 virus and other calamities which have struck the country.

Gen. Azurin received the PMAAAI “Outstanding Achievement Award” which recognized his dedication to maintaining peace and order, as well as his efforts to combat illegal drugs and other criminal activities while ensuring that the rule of law and observation of human rights will always be followed.

The member of PMA ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989 said he was humbled by the recognition he got from his fellow Cavaliers even as he said he won’t achieve all of his accomplishments without the help of his men and women.

“This award is not just a recognition of my personal achievements, but a testament to the hard work and sacrifices of the men and women of the Philippine National Police who tirelessly work to maintain peace and order in our communities,” the top cop whose resignation from the police force was rejected by PBBM and was instead directed by the Commander-in-Chief to lead the 5-Man Committee created to purge the police force of 3rd-Level Officers with drug links.

The PMAAAAI also recognized several distinguished alumni for their exceptional contributions to their respective fields during the said event. They include former Armed Forces chief of staff, Lieutenant Gen. Bob Bacarro, a living AFP Medal of Valor Awardee from PMA ‘Maringal’ Class of 1988; Coast Guard commandant, Admiral Artemio Abu of PMA ‘Tanglaw-Diwa’ Class of 1992; Navy Flag Officer-in-Command, Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr., also of PMA Class 1989; and Philippine Air Force chief, Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreño, a member of PMA ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991.

Abu was appointed as the 29th Coast Guard commandant by former President Rodrigo Duterte on February 28, 2022. He is a younger brother of my friend from PMA Class 1989, Lt. Gen. Manny Abu who retired as the PNP The Chief Directorial Staff in August 22 last year. Both have been hailed as ‘modern Batangueño heroes’ by the provincial government.

Vice Admiral Adaci joined the Navy upon graduation from Fort del Pilar and since then had specialized in naval operations, education and training and personnel management and administration.

On the other hand, Parreño is a highly-skilled pilot who graduated salutatorian of PMA Class 1991. He is known for being the lone ‘Starman’ of PMA Class 1991 or a graduate with high distinction as a cadet in both academics and conduct. If my memory serves me right, there are only 12 remaining PMA Class 1991 members in the police force led by PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, Lt. Gen. Benjie Santos, PNP Chief Directorial Staff, Lt. Gen. Mike Dubria and PNP Director for Intelligence, Major Gen. Benjie Acorda.

I also doff my hats to my friend, PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management, Major Gen. Ely Cruz of PMA ‘Bigkis-Lahi’ Class of 1990 who received the prestigious PMA Cavalier Award for Police Operations.

A former PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director, Cruz got the award for his major accomplishments in the crackdown against criminality and terror apart from solving a number of high-profile crimes and sending offenders to jail.

The PMAAAI also gave a plaque of meritorious recognition to retired Police Lt. Gen. Rey Velasco of PMA Class 1971 who used to be the chairman and administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System.

Sir Rey, a true-blue Special Action Force pioneer is a friend way back in the 90s. He also used to be a former Bangsamoro police regional office director and later NCRPO chief who became a PNP Deputy Chief for Operations and a one-time Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan mayor.

Querol conferred the prestigious recognition to the awardees while emphasizing the importance of recognizing outstanding alumni for their contributions to society. The event highlighted the continued commitment of PMA alumni to the development and progress of the country, even amidst challenging times. Cheers to you officers and gentlemen. Indeed, life is beautiful.