The Muntinlupa City government congratulated a female police officer in the city who was awarded by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for good deeds.
PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos led the launching of the 2022 National Women’s Month Celebration on March 7 by recognizing Lt. Rizalyn Soledad, a Muntinlupa police officer, as one of the PNP Female Personnel with Good Deeds.
According to the PNP, Soledad was commended for leading the rescue of Divina “Nanay Dina” Estrada in September 2021. Estrada had been away from her family in Pangasinan for 15 years. She had been living in Muntinlupa until her rescue by the Muntinlupa police’s Intelligence Section, Community Affairs Section and Women and Children Protection Desk led by Soledad.
Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi praised Soledad for the PNP award and said women play a very important part in the development of the city and the country.
Manila Bulletin published the story of Nanay Dina on Sept. 20, 2021, who, through the help of the Muntinlupa police, went back to Pangasinan and was finally reunited with her family.
Estrada, 54, begged money from motorists for survival. On Sept. 17, 2021, the Muntinlupa police conducted a rescue operation and found Estrada along Daang Hari in Cavite.
Soledad said Estrada was weak and suffering from cataract. Estrada was unable to go back to Pangasinan since 2006 and lived by begging money from motorists and other people.
According to Soledad, Estrada’s daughter, Mejica Estrada, narrated that her mother went to live in Muntinlupa when her partner was incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) so she could visit him. When her partner died, Estrada decided to settle in Muntinlupa.
In August 2021, Estrada asked her neighbors in Biazon Road, Brgy. Poblacion, Muntinlupa to find her daughter on Facebook. The neighbors were able to find Mejica, who promised that she would fetch her mother in Muntinlupa after learning about her situation.
However, Mejica was not able to immediately fulfill her promise when her husband and daughter became ill, and in part due to lockdowns and quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and provinces because of the pandemic.
After Estrada’s rescue, the Muntinlupa police accompanied her to Pangasinan on Sept. 18, 2021 where she was reunited with her daughter and grandchild.