Nurse-turned-cop from Bontoc recognized as one of Outstanding Police Non-Commissioned Officers in CAR

Bontoc, Mt Province - A 35-year-old cop from Mt. Province, Police Staff Sergeant (PSSg) Caleb Zimran F. Filog, was recognized as one of the Outstanding Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCO) in Cordillera by the Philippine National Police on July 31, 2025, a feat he credits to divine intervention.

Filog, currently assigned to the Provincial Community Affairs Development Unit of the Mt. Province Police Office, received the prestigious award for his significant contributions in police-community relations, particularly in youth mobilization against drugs and terrorism through the PNP’s ‘Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terrorismo’ (KKDAT) advocacy. 

In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, Filog said that his nomination for the award was prepared by Corporal Roxan Dekdeken, who eventually had to inform him to gather the required documents. 

“…may mga dapat siyang kunin sakin kaya nalaman ko. Upon knowing it, I told her na if there’s a possibility they choose other Police Community Relations personnel to nominate, but she insisted,” he recounted. 

The Bontoc-born cop said Dekdeken submitted his achievements twice,  first in 2024 and again this 2025, finally earning the recognition this year. 

Filog said the movements that contributed to his eligibility for the award included accepting and participating in the ‘Moving the Youth towards Peace and Development’ program, which aims to address mental health issues of the youth, community services, and visiting schools for lectures, among others. 

“I achieved this award by doing my job—my part as a police officer. I achieved it by doing a little bit of rock and roll; yung passion, yung commitment, yung love na magtrabaho even against the negative comments,” he added. 

From stethoscopes to badge

Before becoming one of the men in uniform, Filog wanted to become a nurse. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Mountain Province State University (MPSU), formerly known as Mt. Province Polytechnic College though it took him eight years to complete due to ‘personal reasons.’

Filog admitted that failing the Nurse Licensure Examination on his first try in 2014 left him depressed. At that time, a cop neighbor in Bontoc encouraged him to apply to the police force, even helping him finance his clearance requirements. 

“Agap-apa kami pay kenni father idi. Pero wala talaga sa isip ko ang mag-apply sa PNP. Nung umuwi ako, in-encourage ako ng ‘manang’ namin—ng neighbor namin [also a member of the PNP] na mag-apply. And upon hearing that, I don’t know what went right and wrong with me kasi na-encourage ako. Siya pa nagbigay sa akin ng pera para maasikaso ang mga clearances ko. Just one and a half days, nakompleto ko yung clearances ko and pumunta na ako sa Baguio,” he said. 

Filog decided to grab the opportunity and took the NAPOLCOM exam. He passed the exam without proper preparation, and while waiting for his NLE results, his police application was moving forward. 

Although he also passed the nursing exam in 2015, he chose law enforcement instead, using both his nursing license and NAPOLCOM rating as his eligibility.

Despite choosing to be a cop, he never stopped being a nurse at heart.  According to him, he served at Camp Bado Dangwa Hospital from 2022 to 2024.

Filog’s message to workers in government

When asked about his message to workers, Filog simply advised that one should be guided by the words of God, saying, “Rock n roll lang, trabaho lang. When it comes to trabaho, ‘Proverbs 16:3,’ Commit your works unto the Lord and your plans shall be established. Whether we eat or drink, we give it all to the Lord. Para kung ano man yung mga plans natin, ang Panginoon ang magi-establish. God will help you in whatever things you do. Maging tapat tayo—let’s do our job with commitment. Wag magpa-affect sa discouragement and convert it to encouragement instead.”