PHILIPPINE National Police Officer-in-Charge (PNP-OIC) Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr., this week led the conferment of the Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Kamagi award on 767 police personnel for their role in the historic Liberation of Marawi City in 2017.

By virtue of the Executive Order No. 35, signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte dated July 28, 2017, the top cop, joined by members of the PNP Command Group, officially presented the award to the police personnel who played significant roles in liberating Marawi City from the hands of MPNP personnel in recognition of their significant roles in the Liberation of Marawi City in 2017.

“These awardees, especially those from Marawi City, really sacrificed themselves even at the risk of leaving their families just to protect our country,” Lt. Gen. Danao stressed in his message as he proudly recognized and honored the ultimate sacrifice and service rendered by the awardees from different units.

“And even in the risking of their own lives, ay talagang ‘buwis buhay’. Kung makikita ninyo ang award, pulang-pula, ibig sabihin ay hindi lang ordinaryong sakripisyo ang ginawa ng ating mga men in uniform kundi talagang buwis buhay ang kanilang ibinigay,” the PNP-OIC added.

Lt. Gen. Danao said that apart from the Order of Kamagi, the other awards being given to the Marawi liberators are the Rank of Magalong for the team leaders; the Rank of Kampilan for those wounded in action; and the Rank of Kalasag for those who died in combat.

“Many policemen lost their lives during the Marawi City siege, some of them killed in actual encounters, or shot by snipers or killed by improvised explosive devices [IED] set up by the extremists,” he said.

The PNP-OIC said that so far, there is peace and tranquility in Marawi City, although there are areas in the city that are yet to be developed due to the presence of unexploded bombs.

A total of 819 PNP personnel were chosen as recipients of the Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Kamagi.

Fifty-two were already awarded in 2017. Hence, 767 awardees were recognized during the flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame, the different Police Regional Offices, and the PNP Special Action Force headquarters.

A total of 708 of the awardees are still in the active service, while 59 were either optionally or compulsorily retired from the force at the age of 56, while others died during the siege.

The Marawi City siege started on May 23, 2017, when ISIS-inspired members of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Groups launched a series of attacks in the area.

The ensuing 5-month-long gunbattles led to the killing of 978 militants, including 13 foreigners, 168 government troops, and 87 civilians.

Established in 2017, the Order of Lapu-Lapu, particularly the Rank of Kamagi, is conferred by the President of the Philippines in recognition of the exemplary service rendered by officials and personnel of the Government and private individuals.

This recognition is given to those who actively participated in and contributed significantly to an activity under a campaign or advocacy of the President and the Philippine Government.

Lt. Gen. Danao also launched the PNP Applicants Monitoring Portal (AMP) and Medical Records Management System (MRMS) yesterday.

MRMS will house the health information of all PNP personnel which will be readily available when needed by health professionals, while AMP is an accessible online monitoring system for the process and status of PNP applicants. By Alfred Dalizon