MY previous article on ‘Good Lakans versus Bad Lakans’ triggered different reactions from many friends from the Philippine National Police Academy or PNPA who have served with distinction in the police force.

As I have mentioned last week: “ The ongoing congressional probe on a controversial police operation in Parañaque City on September 16 last year in fact has elicited some nasty remarks from observers. (I was referring to ongoing efforts by good ‘Lakans’ to go after their fellow ‘Lakans’ who are committing individual acts of dishonesty and other corrupt and illegal acts while serving in the police force).

“It’s really frightening. Just imagine what will happen if they are the ones left to lead the police force,” one retired police general told me. He was referring to the new breed of officers from the PNPA which is the premier source of police lieutenants once they are the ones lording it over the police force 10, 15 or 20 years from now, when all Peemayers and their senior Lakans are all gone.

One PNPA general fully agreed with me. “I agree completely sa recent na sinulat mo about PNP. At the same time it makes me sad about the country’s future law enforcement leaders,” said the star-rank official who talked to me in confidence.

However, an officer of the PNPA Alumni Association, Inc. or PNPAAAI, my friend Colonel Byron Tabernilla defended the majority of the ‘Lakans’ and ‘Lakambinis’ who are all doing good in the service of the country.

The PNPAAAI is chaired by retired Police Major General Gilbert Cruz, a product of PNPA ‘Tagapagtanggol’ Class of 1986 who is now the Executive Officer of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission. The association’s vice-chairperson is retired Major Gen. Cedrick Train of the PNPA ‘Makatarungan’ Class of 1984, a former Police Regional Office 12 director in Soccsksargen region who is now the Taguig assistant city prosecutor.

Cruz told me they won’t condone illegal individual acts by some of their fellow PNPA graduates but maintained that due process and fairness in the search for the truth must always be observed. He also emphasized that ‘due process’ must always prevail and in any case, ‘let the ax fall where it may.’

“We don’t condone such individual act or undertaking by some of our fellow Lakans but we are also calling for the natural flow of the criminal justice system prevail, meaning a just and fair investigation on any reported illegal acts committed by our fellow Academy graduates,” said Undersecretary Cruz, the chair of the 7,391-strong PNPAAAI.

Tabernilla, a member of PNPA ‘Tanglaw-Lahi’ Class of 1999 and currently the PNPAAAI vice-president said they have slated programs on mentoring and lecture series on leadership as part of their plans and programs.

“We would like to reinforce our members, the alumni of PNPA the ideals taught to them in our Alma Mater, the ideals of Justice, Integrity and Service. We will come up soon of initiatives that will continuously remind the alumni of their commitment, professionalism, that public service is a public trust, good governance, (sic) ” the official who used to be an Albay Police Provincial Office director said.

Tabernilla also said they are all geared up at having all ‘Lakans’ who are the country’s scholars’ to do something towards nation-building. “As what we have thought and have composed theme on our forthcoming 44th grand Alumni Homecoming “Nagkakaisang Lakan Tungo sa Ligtas, Payapa at Matatag na Bayan,” he said.

I fully agree with these three PNPAAAI Board of Trustees who are all recognized by their peers and colleagues for their exceptional academic achievement and their unwavering dedication and commitment to excellence and do hope they would get the full support of their fellows, both active and retired ‘Lakans.’

The thing called ‘leadership mentoring’ for one is needed to equip not only PNPA-bred officials but also those from other source of commission in the police and military establishments with the skills and attributes they need to be successful leaders.

It is actually leadership by example, the idea of hitting the ground running from day one as soon as they take on the role of a leader. It is the leadership style where an officer’s behavior becomes the honest-to-goodness model of his/her team members.

By leading by example, even the 1st Sergeant in a police office, a Team Leader, a Police-Community Precinct commander, a Chief of Police and up to the PNP ladder will be able to effectively push his/her subordinates to always achieve excellence as he/she demonstrate that ideal thing.

Now is also the right time for the PNPAAAI to really push for excellence among their colleagues, particularly embarking on a program that will really create a strong pipeline of capable leaders who will really carry the ideals of Justice, Integrity and Service of a proud Lakan.

Although other source of commission in the police force also have their own share of major scandals and controversies in the past, I really would like to have a corps of officers from the PNPA who will be our ideal policemen in the future.

Being the main source of Police Commissioned Officers in our country, we ought to develop future officers who really won’t lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do and we should start now.

As Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez said during a recent congressional hearing: “Ang maling gawa kapag ginagawa ng matatanda, sa mata ng bata lahat ng ito ay nagiging tama.” This really poses a very big challenge for our Good Lakans.