After four years of hard challenges that include Covid-19 infections and restrictions, a total of 208 cadets of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) will graduate on Friday, March 10 in a ceremony that is expected to be attended by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.
PNPA director Maj. Gen. Eric Noble said the graduating Masidtalak Class of 2023 is composed of 174 male graduates and 34 female graduates—five of the female cadets made it to the Top 10.
Of the 208 graduating cadets, Noble said 186 of them will join the PNP while 11 will go to the Bureau of Fire Protection and 11 others chose the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
“We are all incredibly proud of these cadets' achievements because they are graduating from the country’s top police higher education institution, renowned for excellence, research, and innovation,” said Noble.
“They now have the chance to demonstrate to the world their ambition, passion, and tenacity in the pursuit of justice, integrity, and service to our people… they have been given the best qualities to make a difference in upholding peace and order and in ensuring public safety,” he added.
The graduating class will be led by Police Cadet Francis D Geneta, an Education Math major who graduated magna cum laude before he joined the Academy.
PNPA spokesperson Lt. Col. Louie Gonzaga said Geneta was raised by a single parent, a seamstress, in Naujan town of Oriental Mindoro.
As the class valedictorian, Geneta will receive the Presidential Kampilan from President Marcos and will also receive the Chief PNP Kampilan as the top cadet who chose the police organization.
Jail Cadet Mary Louise M. Moyano, who ranked third, will receive the BJMP Kampilan Award as the top graduate who decided to join the BJMP while Fire Cadet Eden Jhun M. Santos, ranked fourth and a native of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, will be awarded with the Chief, Bureau of Fire Protection Kampilan for being the top cadet who chose the fire bureau.
This will be the first PNPA graduation ceremony for President Marcos as the guest of honor and speaker.
Also expected to attend are Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Benhur Abalos and PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr.