I’M referring to the group of policemen led by Camp Crame commander, my friend, incoming Brigadier General Mark Pespes who saved detained ex-Senator Leila de Lima from major harm, even death at the hands of an extremist who tried to bolt the heavily-secured PNP Custodial Center last Sunday morning.

The decisive action displayed by Colonel Pespes actually not only saved de Lima’s life but most importantly, it saved the Bongbong Marcos presidency and the PNP leadership headed by General Jun Azurin from a major international backlash in the event something bad really happened to the former lawmaker.

I could not imagine the barrage of negative stories from foreign and local media outfits, especially the perennial government critics if de Lima was harmed on that fateful Sunday morning. If that really happened, the government in general and the PNP in particular would be put in a very bad light, the opportunity expected to be taken advantage of by its detractors.

If luck was not on the side of de Lima and the PNP, there would be running stories on the ineptness of the force similar to what happened to the former Benigno Aquino administration and the PNP during the infamous Quirino Grandstand tragedy on August 23, 2010 which left a disgruntled cop dead after he killed nine Asian tourists.

If luck was not on the side of de Lima and the PNP, who would also stop foreign supporters of de Lima including those lawmakers from the United States and the European Union from speculating that higher-ups were behind such a ‘scenario’ with three jailed terrorists as ‘fall guys.’

However, it really became a different story after Pespes and his men neutralized the three would-be jailbirds and prevented what could have been a very big tragedy and a real national embarrassment. Police preparedness and of course, luck was really on the side of Pespes and Gen. Azurin on Sunday.

On Monday, the PNP leadership honored Pespes and the quick-thinking policemen who rescued de Lima. Given the PNP Medalya ng Kadakilaan were Col. Pespes, the director of the PNP Headquarters Support Service and his men, Patrolman Lorenze Ian Matias, Chief Master Sergeant Jimmy Ferrez and Corporal Rizza Pagaduan and three members of the elite PNP Special Action Force detailed with the PNP-HSS identified as Captain Michael Gobway, MSgt. Denver Lou Ngo-oc and Cpl. Marvin Banigon.

“For note-worthy acts of heroism, duty during the successful rescue of Atty. Leila de Lima, who was held hostage by high-profile PUPCs (persons under PNP custody), which resulted in an armed encounter and neutralization of the three hostage-takers […] the Medalya ng Kadakilaan is proudly awarded to the Camp Commander, Col. Mark Pespes,” the medal citation said. I was told that Matias shot the two other inmates who stabbed one of his colleagues while Pagaduan immediately locked the main exit gate to block the suspects’ escape route.

Col. Pespes, also a former PNP-SAF officer from PNP Academy Class 1993 was the one who shot and killed Feliciano Sulayao Jr., the jailed Dawlah Islamiyah member who grabbed de Lima by the neck and threatened to kill her.

The PNP-HSS director, also known as the Camp Crame commander was at the right place at the right time last Sunday. After Sulayao’s two cohorts Arnel Cabintoy and Idang Susukan, a hardcore Abu Sayyaf member were neutralized by his men, he acted decisively to end the situation as he was just in his office which is located at the back of the custodial center.

After Sulayao demanded for a helicopter, a vehicle, the media and later a glass of water, Col. Pespes managed to shoot the latter after he threatened to kill de Lima. Before that, the suspects have stabbed Corporal Roger Agustin as he was delivering the prisoners’ meal. Agustin is in safe condition already, thank God.

Former PNP chief and senator, now Citizen Ping Lacson said it all when he spoke on last Sunday’s incident. “The swift and decisive response undertaken by the PNP in the foiled hostage-taking of former Senator de Lima and the in-depth investigation already ordered by CPNP Azurin must be taken into consideration before the usual critics start to put the PNP in a bad light,” the respected police general-turned lawmaker said.

“That being said, an impartial investigation must be conducted immediately with the end in view of preventing any similar incident in the future. More importantly, the intended hostage is safe and unscathed even as we should pray for the injured police officer,” he said.

“What is not known to many, an offer for transfer was already made by the PNP to Sen de Lima as early as mid-August this year on the occasion of the US Congressional delegation visit led by Sen. Markey, the reason being – the PNP Custodial Center is primarily designed for high-value criminals and high-risk terrorists. Unfortunately, the former senator declined the offer and opted to stay where she is presently detained,” Lacson said.

“That all being said, and without intending to preempt the authorities, high-risk detainees who are members of an internationally proscribed terrorist organization like the Abu Sayyaf Group should be isolated and not mixed with the other PDLs. That, I assume, will be part of the recommendations in an investigation now being conducted,” he added.