THE PNP yesterday awarded medals to 762 policemen in recognition of their role in the liberation of Marawi City from the hands of the terrorist Maute Group that attacked the city exactly five years ago yesterday.
Fifty of the policemen received the Order of Lapu-Lapu (rank of Kamagi) from PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr yesterday during the flag-raising rites at the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City.
The rest received the award in similar ceremonies in regional police offices and at the Special Action Force based in Taguig City.
The PNP said 52 other policemen were given the similar award in 2017, bringing the number of PNP personnel who received the award for their role in ending the “Marawi siege.”
“These awardees especially those who came from Marawi City really sacrificed themselves even at the risk of leaving their families just to protect our country,” said Danao during the awarding.
Danao said the policemen risked their life to restore peace and order in Marawi City.
Established in 2017, the Order of Lapu-Lapu, particularly the Rank of Kamagi, is conferred by the President.
“This recognition is given to those who actively participated in and contributed significantly to an activity pursuant to a campaign or advocacy of the President and the Philippine government,” said Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba, chief of the PNP public information office.
The five-month siege led to the death of about a thousand terrorists, including Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Southeast Asia emir Isnilon Hapilon.
