Former Chiefs of Police Join Shooting Tilt

DAGUPAN CITY–The Bangus Festival Top Cop Challenge on April 5 and 6 served as a homecoming for some of the former chiefs of police of Dagupan City who joined the competition together with Mayor Belen T. Fernandez and other city officials at the Dagupan Practical Shooting Association (DPSA) firing range in Bonuan.

GENERAL AND MEDIA MEN - Police two-star General  Manuel Barcena recently rekindled and renewed old ties with media practitioners of Pangasinan in a luncheon at the seafood restaurant Silverios in the city.  Barcena, a PMA class 1981 classmate of Chief PNP Allan Purisima, was in Dagupan  to attend the homecoming for the Top Chief of Police (COP) challenge shooting competition with former police chiefs of the city as one of the draws in the month long Bangus Festival. According to Dagupan COP Supt. Chris Abrahano those who responded to the invitation were Police Director Barcena; Police Chief Superintendent Noli G. Taliño, Deputy Director, Special Action Force; Police Chief Superintendent Francisco Manalo Jr. (retired); Police Senior Superintendent Mariano Luis M. Verzosa Jr. (retired); Police Superintendent Ditz Quijardo (retired); and Police Superintendent Romeo M. Caramat Jr. 

Dagupan City Chief of Police P/Supt. Christopher N. Abrahano said the shooting competition did not only enhance the shooting prowess of the PNP officers but became an avenue for a get-together of all former COPs of the city.

“Schools and universities have their own alumni homecoming. We asked ourselves, why not have our own homecoming too for former chiefs of police? We came up with the Dagupan City Top Cop Challenge and what a better way to start the Bangus Festival than with a big bang. This event will also renew the ties of our past COPs, reconnect and rekindle acquaintances,” said Abrahano.

Past COPs who responded to the invitation were Police Director Manuel Barcena; Police Chief Superintendent Noli G. Taliño, Deputy Director, Special Action Force; Police Chief Superintendent Francisco Manalo Jr. (retired); Police Senior Superintendent Mariano Luis M. Verzosa Jr. (retired); Police Superintendent Ditz Quijardo (retired); and Police Superintendent Romeo M. Caramat Jr.

Mayor Fernandez also took part during the first day of the shoot fest along with City Councilors Alipio Serafin D. Fernandez, Redford Christian P. Erfe-Mejia, Jose Netu M. Tamayo; and Ashok Vasandani and former Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) chief Robert Erfe-Mejia.

In her message, Fernandez urged all gun owners to be responsible and must know gun safety and responsible gun ownership.

“They say that the combination of accuracy, power and speed is the winning factor in any practical shooting event. There has to be one gentle element – this must include the heart,” said Fernandez.

She added that competitions such as the Top Cop Challenge promote discipline, self-control and safe gun handling.

“I hope that this in turn will teach proper gun ownership and responsibility not only our police, but also to others outside the uniform. Let us keep the city of Dagupan safe and secure,” she added.

The Top Cop Challenge was sanctioned by the Philippine Practical Shooting Association (PPSA) with eight stages at 175 rounds under three categories, namely, standard, production and classic.

The champions were Rob-Rob Erfe Mejia, aggregate-standard; Richard Barrozo, aggregate-production; Eduardo Yao, aggregate-classic; George Angeles, aggregate-open; Joel Catinec, lawman-standard; Rogel Bilibli, lawman-production; Metz Patting, lawman-classic.

Local Government Units (LGU) category champions were Efren Punsalan, standard; Robert Llanes, production; and Bogs Resuello, classic.

The Dagupan City Police Station (DCPS) champs were Ruby Ulanday, standard; Dexter Tayaba, production; and Bernabe Ramos, classic.

The former COPs champs were P/CSupt. Taliño, standard and P/SSupt. Versoza while in the media category the champ was Cisco Jay Flores.