The family of a Bato police officer narrowly missed being named top winner in the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Search for 2019 Model Philippine National Police (PNP) Families.
Just a fraction of a point shy of the top spot was the Teope family, whose breadwinner, Police Senior Master Sergeant Joseph T. Teope, is currently assigned at the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company at the Camp Francisco Camacho headquarters of the Catanduanes police.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary and NAPOLCOM Chairman Eduardo M. Año together with NAPOLCOM Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer Atty. Rogelio T. Casurao and Commissioners Felizardo M. Serapio, Jr., Zenonida F. Brosas and Job M. Mangente as well as PNP Chief Police General Oscar D. Albayalde awarded plaques of recognition and cash rewards to the winners in a ceremony held at the PNP National Headquarters, Camp Crame, Quezon City on September 23, 2019.
According to the Catanduanes Provincial Police Office, the island’s bet lost narrowly to the Nami family of Agusan del Sur. Police Master Sergeant (PMSg) Mashul S. Nami Jr., assigned at the Bayugan City Police Station as member of the PNP SALAAM Police Center, carries out various activities with Muslim communities in addressing terrorism and lawless violence in their respective areas to ensure respect of cultural diversity and cooperation.
He also authored “Project Shukran” which is considered as one of the best practices of BCPS for Muslim communities. With his wife Catherine, a retired public-school teacher currently connected with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as City Link Officer of 4Ps, they have dedicated their lives in conducting family development symposia and seminars bringing local government agencies’ services to far-flung barangays. Like their parents, their children are also active in various youth organizations, clubs and school activities.
On the other hand, PSMS Teope assumed the responsibility of raising the three children of Eden Avila after the latter’s husband, Pastor Rey Enriquez, passed away in 1998. Treating Malcham, Jeremiah and Shekienah as his own, Teope and his wife nurtured the trio until they became professionals. The marriage was also blessed with three more children: Faith, Love and Micaiah.
Dedicated to his work, he now serves as instructor in the Regional Special Training Unit and was awarded Best Junior PNCO of the Catanduanes PNP in 2014. Once the president of the Municipal PTA Federation of Bato, he represents his office in various community activities either as guest speaker, lecturer or preacher. The Teope family is active in community services as members of the National Chaplaincy Philippines (NACPHIL) which provides Family Development Sessions (FDS) to 4Ps beneficiaries. As devout Christians, his family serves the Church of Praise and organized the “Couples’ Fellowship” and student ministry in their area.
Making up the top five in the search are: the family of Chief Master Sergeant (PCMSg) Sonny T. Montes of the San Luis Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Aurora province, 2nd runner-up; the family of Captain (PCapt) Clemente G. Ceralde Jr. of Dumanjug Police Station, Cebu City, 3rd runner-upl and the family of Captain (PCapt) Pedro T. Tactay, the Deputy Chief of the Police Community Affairs Development Branch, Mountain Province.
Aside from the plaque of recognition, winners also received the following cash awards: P200,000 for the grand winner; P150,000 for the 1st runner-up; P100,000 for the 2nd runner-up; P70,000 for the 3rd runner-up; and 50,000 for the 4th runner-up.
The cash award for the winners of the 2019 Model PNP Families was sponsored by the DILG, NAPOLCOM, Foundation for Crime Prevention, Inc. (FCP), Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), SM Prime Holdings, Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association, Inc. (AFPMBAI), Megaworld Corporation, Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), Jollibee Foods Corporation, Globe Telecom and Victory Liner.
The nationwide search, now on its 7th year, aims to encourage and inspire PNP uniformed personnel to induce positive change in the community by serving as role model.