ILOILO – An Ilonggo is graduating as class valedictorian of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class of 2022.
Cadet Ernie Alarba Padernilla is from Barangay Dalicanan, Passi City.
“When I took the entrance exam and made it to the PNPA, it was a continuation of my journey. I worked hard and with dedication,” he said.
Padernilla graduated as Magna Cum Laude in the course Bachelor of Science in Criminology from Passi City College in 2017. That same year, he passed the Criminology Board Examination.
Months after the board, he took the PNPA admission test and passed.
Aside from being the class valedictorian, Padernilla will also be receiving the Presidential Kampilan, Chief PNP Kapilan, Best in Forensic Science Award, and the Best in Thesis Award.
Another cadet from Iloilo is graduating with honors – as Top 6 of the class.
Cadet Zoe Compleza Seloterio is from Santa Barbara, town. She will be a recipient of the Athletic Kampilan Award for having displayed exemplary performance in sports in the corps of cadets.
On Monday, PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos welcomed the Top 10 graduating cadets of the PNPA Alab-Kalis (Alagad ng Batas na Kakalinga sa Sinilangang Bayan) Class of 2022 in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Padernilla’s mother Elsa said her son’s PNPA sojourn was not a walk in the park. The training was rigorous, she said, and at one point Ernie lost a lot of weight.
She described her son as a studious student even back in elementary school.
Padernilla’s father Renato, a farmer, said government scholarship helped his son and his three other children.
A total of 226 PNPA cadets – consisting of 198 male and 28 female – are set to graduate tomorrow, April 21.
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to lead the graduation ceremonies at the PNPA campus in Silang, Cavite.
The PNPA is the primary source of commissioned officers of the PNP, with its alumni occupying key positions in the command structure of the organization./PN
