Cotabateño PNPA valedictorian gets rousing homecoming welcome

COTABATO CITY --- The local communities gave the Class 2017 valedictorian of the Philippine National Police Academy a warm homecoming welcome on Monday.Police Inspector Macdum Darping Enca, the top graduate of PNPA’s Masidlak Class of 2017, was born and raised in Cotabato City.The reception rite for Enca, who is of ethnic Maguindanaon descent, was organized by Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi.Enca, who arrived at the Maguindanao Airport in nearby Datu Odin Sinsuat town at almost noontime Monday, was first brought by a convoy to the office of Guiani-Sayadi at the People’s Palace, the operations center here of the Cotabato City local government unit, for a meeting with the mayor and other senior local officials.Guiani-Sayadi, a practicing lawyer, is a staunch supporter of programs meant to empower the Moro youth and complement the normalization agenda of the peace overture of President Rodrigo Duterte with southern Muslim communities.Guiani-Sayadi tendered a testimonial banquet for Enca, whom she and other officials lauded one after another during the event.The mayor, in a message, urged the city’s Muslim, Christian and Lumad youth to emulate the example of Enca, now a police inspector in the PNP.Enca was also honored on Monday by the LGU of Sultan Kudarat town in nearby Maguindanao province.Sultan Kudarat Mayor Shameem Mastura awarded the young officer with a special citation plaque for graduating valedictorian from PNPA.Enca finished elementary and high school with honors in the Sultan Kudarat Islamic Academy in Sultan Kudarat town.Enca was accompanied by his parents, engineer Yakubnur and Hadja Zainab, in his engagements with local officials in the city and in Sultan Kudarat.Mastura, now in his second term as Sultan Kudarat mayor, said he and his constituents in the municipality are proud of Enca, a full-blooded Maguindanaon.