LA TRINIDAD, Beguet – Full funeral honors were accorded to Police Colonel Michael Cadiogan Bawayan Jr. as he was laid to his final resting place here over the weekend.
Chief PNP General Guillermo Eleazar together with other high ranking PNP officials, colleagues from the Special Action Force and other PNP Units led the funeral honors to the fallen police officer during the burial ceremony at the Pyramid Memorial Park on Saturday(August 13, 2021).
Eleazar expressed condolences to the family of Bawayan and thanked the fallen hero for the sacrifices he had given to the country during his stint as a police officer until he assumed as the Provincial Director of the Sulu Provincial Police Office.
“The men and women of the Philippine National Police joins the bereaved family in mourning the death of Police Colonel Michael Bawayan Jr, a man of honor and dignity,” Eleazar said during the burial rites which was accentuated by a 3-volley rifle salute and bugle taps according to prescribed police customs and tradition.
Bawayan was killed last August 6, 2021 by alleged gunman, Police Staff Sergeant Imran Jilah who was assigned with the 3rd Maneuver Platoon of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company.
The chief PNP, who earlier ordered a deeper probe into the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident, said the sacrifices made by Bawayan will not be forgotten and it will be an instrument to further improve the PNP organization.
“Hindi masasayang ang mga sakripisyong ibinigay ni Michael, at ito ang magiging dahilan na lalo pa nating aayusin ang pagtanggap ng kapusilan sa ating hanay, at sa aking panunungkulan ay aming sinimulan sa recruitment pa lamang, yan ay aming babalikan at patuloy na palalakasin,” (The sacrifices of Col. Bawayan will not be wasted but instead it will be an encouragement to improve the PNP organization starting from the recruitment process and this will start during my stint.)Eleazar said.
Eleazar said that the PNP is looking on the expansion of the neuro psychiatric tests for the police force primarily and making it a regular activity to ensure mental health wellness of the police force.
He said that traditionally, the neuro psychiatric tests is being done when an applicant enters the police force or as requirement during recruitment. It also is being done for police officers applying for the promotions and mandatory schooling.
“Sa ngayon kasi, ang neuro psychiatric test ay ginagawa lamang kung ikaw ay aplikante ng PNP o mag aaply for promotions or sa mandatory schooling, aside from that hinid natin ginagawa iyon. Pero kagaya ang AFP na every three years kasi mayroon silang enlistment at sa atin po ay ganun din po ang gusto nating gawin,”(At the moment, the neuro psychiatric tests is being done for PNP applicants, for promotion and mandatory schooling only. Not like in the AFP that every three years they conduct neuro psychiatric tests every three years as they have enlistment of personnel and that is what we want for the PNP also) Eleazar said.
He stressed that there is a need to conduct regular neuro psychiatric test to ensure that incidents such as what happened to Bawayan and other incidents involving police officers will not be repeated.
The PNP Health Services have started to conduct the neuro psychiatric tests but it is focused on those personnel who are prone to such incidents./Redjie Melvic Cawis (RMC- PIA CAR)
