By: Lakan Richard J Habawel
On October 1999, close to 10,000 hopeful youths from all over the country took the Philippine National Police Academy Cadet Admission Test (PNPACAT). From this pool, one thousand eight hundred twenty-eight were able to hurdle the initial obstacle to becoming a cadet. From January to March 2000, these lucky applicants reported to the Camp to take the medical, neuro psychiatric and physical fitness tests to determine the most qualified for the cadetship training. Finally, the best four hundred fifty applicants were chosen to compose classes in 2003 and 2004.
On May 9, 2000, 219 reported for the reception rites for PNPA Class 2003, the class to which they are luckily assigned and of which, 192 were males and 27 were females. They were to taste the initial hardships that characterized the life of a first-year cadet.
The first few days initiated them into the regimented and exacting spartan way of life of cadets. Physical exercises and drills were their daily staple. They also memorized poems known as plebe knowledge, songs, names of officers and familiarize themselves with the different parts of a gun. Each day, they see cadets signifying resignation from the training. Those who cannot physically cope up but are a little more hopeful and courageous to carry on took respite from the daily grind at the Medical Dispensary. On May 15, came a flurry of events that changed the course of history of PNPA.
On May 16, 2000, the wake-up call was not even sounded. Everybody was surprised. It is Reception Day for Class 2004. Few upperclassmen came to the New Cadet Battalion (NCBn). Those who came passed on the news that they now have underclassmen. The news came with a price- lots of exercises. They sweated it out inside the barracks on that same cool and rainy day that their underclassmen were rolling and crawling in the now muddy ground of the Campos Field.
On the afternoon of May 18, 2000, they received orders from their tactical officers to pack their belongings and vacate the NCBn. They transferred to 2nd Battalion area. Not far from their barracks was the Class of 2004’s “melting pot”. For the next several days, they were only to meet their upperclassmen at the Campos Field for marching and rife drills. On June 2, 2000, 460 members both of Classes 2001 and 2002 were either dismissed or suspended from cadetship training. Their Tactical Officers were also relieved by the Academy. A few remained to supervise. Adjustments in the tactical organization were implemented and so with their class. They found their selves teaching the basic drills they learned from their upperclassmen. They began to render duties in different postings as ordered.
Concomitant to the issue is a change of Command. Dr. Leticia Sanchez was designated Officer-In-Charge of the PNPA with Police Superintendent Rosario Alvarado as Commandant of Cadets.
On June 13, 2000, Dr. Leticia Sanchez announced the start of classes. At the same time, they were issued the General Office Attire (GOA). The maroon hue was changed to blue uniforms. They were the first to wear blue supposedly as the color of peace and the international color for law enforcement personnel’s uniform. Later, the Barong Tagalog was added as their uniform.
During the days that they were left in the Academy without their upperclassmen, a new set of officers were elected to replace the first set of their class officers. On July 2000, Police Senior Superintendent Dionisio Coloma was appointed as PNPA Director. The new leaders in the Academy’s hierarchy brought innovations. The administration found it wise to forego the Incorporation Rites which involved the merging of the plebes with their upperclassmen, letting them live under one roof, eat in the same table and march in the same platoon. The first Cadet-Parent Fellowship was held to allay parents’ fears about the Academy.
Before the Cadet-Parents Fellowship, the class convened at the Main Guard Room No. 2 with Cdt Habawel presiding over their meeting. After several suggestions, the name SAMBIGKIS proposed by Cdt Joedy Lito Guisinga garnered the most votes. The term is rooted in the Tagalog word “ISA” which means one and “BIGKIS” which means bundle, in essence, a group of individuals bound together. It stood for class unity, common purpose, thought, spirit, and cooperation to achieve the lofty goals of the Class. The Class song became “Will of the Wind” to express their Class’s character, ideals, and aspirations.
On August 5, 2000, 254 members of Class 2002 were reinstated into the Academy giving them the chance to realize their dreams of becoming future officers. The next few months after their return from suspension, they slowly began to absorb more of the traditions and culture of the Cadet Corps. As upperclassmen, they took on the responsibilities as their elder brothers.
Again, on February 9, 2001, 253 cadets of Class 2001 and 57 of Class 2002 were reinstated and received back to the Academy’s fold. For the first time, the PNPA Corps of Cadets was composed of four different classes. In yet another innovation, the First Class Cadets were called the Rajahs, the Second Class the Datus, the Third Class as Lakans, and the Fourth Class as Maginoos in line with the thrust of the PPSC of civilianizing cadet training which was not vague in the minds of the Cadets.
During the Investiture Rites on February 16, 2001, cadets were promoted to the next higher rank, with the wearing of new insignias and shoulder boards. Class 2001 was officially designated First Class, and the members were given the rank of Lieutenants. As Third Class they became Corporals.
On August 21, Police Senior Superintendent Alejandro Gutierrez took over from Police Senior Superintendent Dionisio Coloma as the PNPA Director, ending his third tour of duty. Police Superintendent Roman Felix became the new Commandant of Cadets and Police Superintendent Rodolfo Sebastian, Dean of Academics. Along with them came new Tactical Officers, mostly members of PNPA Class 1995 who were previously assigned to Special Action Forces.
On the evening of the Investiture Rites in February they celebrated the Skagger’s Night and lighted their cigarettes from the Giant Cigar to celebrate their ascension to a higher rank. They acquired the two heavier stripes with a metal insignia on their shoulders. They now had greater responsibilities as they assumed bigger roles in the Cadet Corps.
They became immediate supervisors of the incoming plebes on May 1, 2001, for two classes and taught the Academy’s tradition to the new cadets. Their class discussed their ruling policy as First Class Cadets arriving at a set of rules to reinforce the provisions of Cadet Guide. They defined the role of each class to establish discipline and cooperation among the lower classes. After weeks of deliberation, the first Ruling Class Policy was approved by the Administration for enforcement within the Cadet Corps.
Simultaneous with the ruling class policy was the Honor Code. The newly set-up Honor Committee was headed by Cdt Lowyn Amoyar who explained the different provisions of the Code and the process by which the Honor System worked.
The passing mark for every exam became 70 percent instead of the former 50 percent. By the end of the semester, that new policy took its role on many cadets. They were either turned back or dismissed for academic deficiencies. This ensured the Academy produced the best graduates.
In their last semester in the Academy, seminars formed part of the Cadet Attachment Program. Twenty-eight took the Fire Safety Seminar, while 150 tackled police related subjects. These were meant to refresh them on the subjects taken up during the last two years.
On January 5, 2003, the Camp came to life with the happy chatter of cadets from their two-week Christmas Vacation.
On January 21 and 22, 2003 a Cadet Summit was held at the Escarcha Hall, Philippine Public Safety College in Fort Bonifacio which culminated with the signing of a covenant on “Zero Hazing Policy”.
On January 24, 2003, Police Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Varilla and Police Senior Superintendent Salvacion took over the helm as Director and Commandant of Cadets, respectively. Police Senior Superintendent Balligi Agnanayon Tira replaced Police Superintendent George Rabina as the Chief Directorial Staff. With this new team, the Academy’s future appeared rosy.
On the last phase of their Cadet Attachment Program, they were sent on February 24, 2003, to the different districts of NCRPO for their on-the-job training. They would be putting to the test whatever they had learned during Phase 2 of the Cadet Attachment Program, the Police Orientation Practical Exercises from January 13 to February 21. It was a chance to observe and do real police work to determine their capability in responding to crime situations.
As they went through their last days as cadets, they realized that cadets’ life begins and ends on the hallowed grounds of the Campos Field. It is where they are received as cadets, where they finally graduate as Public Safety Officers and where the seeds of brilliant minds are sowed.
The SAMBIGKIS Class of 2003 had 164 graduates. Their journey had begun with uncertainty, but now, with their heads held high and their hearts steadfast, they stepped into the future with purpose, carrying with them the honor and legacy of those who came before them. At present, 157 original members are still living.
Source:
Bugle Call, 2009
PNPAAAI Records
Philippine National Police Academy
