She is misconstrued as “maldita”, but behind the impregnable image you will get to know the woman chief of Bogo City Police Station, as one cool woman.
She is the “kalog” type that you will not expect her to be, that one friend with a contagious laughter. One cannot help but laugh along with her.
During the pandemic I had the opportunity to work with this exceptional woman, I am surprised by the opinion of others towards this kind woman. Behind the image that she is labelled, PLTCOL JOAN GUIA ARNOCO is the opposite. In every birthday of the staff, she will make it a point to order cake and food to make us feel special and valued. She listened and empathized with everyone around her.
Strict in all the right places but she earned the respect of everyone. Let us get to know more the story behind the woman that she has become.
PLTCOL ARNOCO is the only child of Danilo and Grace, Joan grew in a strict environment. Her father, a retired fireman who dreamed of rearing her only girl to become a chief of police. Her routine constitutes of home, school and back to home. During her childhood, she lived a sheltered life yet taught to live independently.
Before she entered the academy, did you know that PLTCOL ARNOCO used to be a Mass Communication student of the University of the Philippines- Cebu? Yes, you heard it right, she was schooled for one year and one semester before she braved to be a public servant. According to PLTCOL ARNOCO, she was shy when she was in college but developed her confidence when she discovered her potentials.
One cannot get far away from one’s interest because she became a member of the speaker’s bureau during her PNPA days. She may have not finished her degree in journalism but she applied her skills in public speaking. Don’t be mistaken to joke around PLTCOL ARNOCO because she is a member the shooting team in her hay days, she is not one to miss her targets.
Being a police officer is a God given gift, nobody expected her to graduate but by her perseverance and faith in God made her through the finishing line. A proud graduate of PNPA Oman-Silang Class of 2008.
Asked if she is more a follower or a leader? She firmly answers that in order for one to become a good leader one must be a good follower. She is a servant and a leader molded into one.
She is guided by these beliefs that “Sometimes our principles in life opposes to the norms of the organization, it often leads to disappointment, but change is the only constant. I learned that there will be times that disappointment will flood us, but just continue doing what is right, continue to be a public servant and eventually everything will fall into place. People come and go, time will change but your character and principle will be with you forever. Don’t let things that you cannot control label you into someone you do not want to be. Just do what is right.”
PLTCOL JOAN GUIA ARNOCO is a dotting aunt to her nephews and nieces who she showers with love and affection. In fact, she is sending two of her nephews to school, part of her responsibilities as an aunt.
As the Chief of Police of Bogo City Police Station, she launched Kasayuran Mo, Gasahan Ko wherein the police station gains the information from the community to aid the PNP in the immediate solution of existing crimes, to easily catch criminals and to enhance the proactive deployment of the PNP. Likewise, they also have ReRe sa Sugbosog, a rehabilitation and reintegration of drug surrenderers through farming/gardening plots located inside the police station. This is in partnership with the LGU, Provincial Government and Department of Agriculture.
She strengthens police community relations thru enhanced Pulis sa Barangay by having close relations with the barangay officials and purok leaders to encourage participation of the community.
PLTCOL ARNOCO will make sure that people in Bogo City will have a safe place to walk at night and an assurance that investment will flourish because she will make sure that criminals will not be welcomed in the city.
Don’t mess with the woman chief of Bogo City Police Station, she is one hell of a woman! Cool yet fierce. She comes from a lineage of chiefs of police of Bogo City and Tabogon.
Hail to the impregnable woman chief of Bogo City Police Station, PLTCOL JOAN GUIA ARNOCO. Mabuhi ka!
Written by: NUP Merlie A. Dacunos
Source: Cebu Police Provincial Office
