SAF 44 hero Sr. Insp. Max Jim Ramirez Tria and four other Bicolano war heroes and former police officers were honored last week by Malacanang, with Philippine National Police (PNP) camps in the Police Regional Office 5 renamed after them.
In twin proclamations issued on Dec. 20, 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named the 504th Maneuver Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 5 in Pilar, Sorsogon as Camp Police Max Jim Ramirez Tria; the donated lot in Pasacao, Camarines Sur as Camp Brigadier General Ludovico Padilla Arejola; the donated lot in Sta. Cruz, Ligao City, Albay as Camp Captain Salvador Jaucian del Rosaro, Sr; the Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office as Camp Colonel Juan Querubin Miranda; and the Camarines Sur 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company Headquarters as Camp 2LT Carlos Rafael Paz Imperial.
Also included in Proclamation Nos. 429 and 430 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin were Camp Efigenio C. Navarro, PRO MIMROPA Headquarters renamed as Camp Brigadier General Efigenio C. Navarro; the Police Regional Officer 12 of General Santos City renamed Camp General Paulino T. Santos, Police Regional Office 12 and the Biliran Police Provincial Office as Camp Private Andres P. Dadizon, Police Regional Office 8.
“It is fitting to give honor to former servicemen who have shown patriotism, courage, and dedication in serving the country and the provinces to which they are assigned, and distinguished themselves in their service to the nation, by way of naming and renaming PNP facilities in their honor,” President Marcos said.
In naming and renaming PNP camps and properties, President Marcos cited Section 2 of the Republic Act No. 10086, or the Strengthening People’s Nationalism through Philippine History Act, which strengthens people’s nationalism, love of country and respect for its heroes and pride for people’s accomplishments.
The proclamation, however, did not clarify why the new name of the 504th Maneuver Company headquarters did not indicate the rank of officer Tria at the time of his death, which was Senior Inspector.
Tria, who was among the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) killed in the Mamasapano incident, was the only one among five sons to follow in his father Guillermo’s footsteps as a policeman.
The graduate of the Catanduanes State University (CatSU) Laboratory Schools entered the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) and attained top honors in sniper school, commando and scout ranger training, and in handling explosives and ordinance.
He was just 27 when he reportedly died as the “last man standing” during the Jan. 25, 2015 clash with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerillas after the SAF had killed a Malaysian terrorist and bombmaker in a special operation.
Brig. Gen. Ludovico Arejola of Camarines Sur was a prominent intellectual when he and his father were arrested by the Spanish colonial government in 1896 and deported to Central Africa. When he was able to return after two years, he presented himself to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and was later appointed as colonel of the Territorial Militias.
When the Filipino-American War broke out in 1990, he served as field commander of the Bicolano revolutionaries and engaged in many battles with the American forces. Faced with the scarcity of arms, munitions, starvation, reconcentration and the increasing pressure from the American forces, he and his men eventually surrendered in March 1901.
Capt. Salvador del Rosario was one of the leaders of the guerilla organizations in Ligao, Albay during World War II while Col. Juan Miranda was commanding officer of the Tangkong Vaca Guerrilla Unit (TVGU), which was the last standing guerilla unit in Camarines Sur at the time.