NANILA, Philippines — National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Oscar Albayalde confirmed reports that the Caloocan police station was given awards days after Grade 11 student Kian Loyd Delos Santos was shot dead by police officers during an anti-drug operation in the city.

Albayalde said the awards were given to the station headed by Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna, who was later sacked following Delos Santos’ death, during the Police Service Anniversary last month.

“I think ano po ‘yan, noong police service anniversary ng PNP…Dahil may kanya-kanya pong police service anniversary ang iba’t ibang mga region…Totoo po nakatanggap ngunit hindi lang po s’ya, marami po ‘yong mga police station na nakakuha ng best performing city police office, hindi lang po ‘yong Caloocan,” said Albayalde during an interview with dzMM radio Wednesday morning.

[I think it’s during the police service anniversary of the PNP…Each region has its own police service anniversary…It’s true that it received awards but it’s not the only one, many other police stations were also honored as best performing city police office not just Caloocan.]

The 116th anniversary with the theme, “Buhay ng Pulis Handang Ibuwis Para sa Katahimikan at Kaayusan ng Bayan [Policemen Ready to Risk Their Lives for the Nation’s Peace and Order],” was celebrated at the NCRPO in Bicutan Taguig City last August 18.

It was also during the said celebration that 19-year-old former University of the Philippines student Carl Angelo Arnaiz was killed in Caloocan during an alleged shootout with policemen after he allegedly robbed at gunpoint 54-year-old taxi driver Tomas Bagcal.

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The Caloocan City Police Station won four awards during the celebration: best city police station; station with the highest number of arrested and neutralized most wanted persons; station with the highest confiscated firearms; and station with the highest accomplishment in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs campaign or Oplan Double Barrel.

Asked by dzMM on Wednesday if Delos Santos’ killing was among the reasons why the Caloocan police became an awardee, Albayalde said, “Hindi lang po ‘yon ang pinagbasehan…Marami pong dahilan kung bakit nagiging best police office, region-wide lang naman po ‘yon, hindi po nationwide ‘yon [That’s not the only basis…There are many reasons why a station becomes the best police office, it’s just region-wide not nationwide].”