Five police officers wounded in a firefight between the police and suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Abra received the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting on Tuesday.

Chief Supt. Elmo Francisco Oco Sarona, regional director of the Cordillera PNP, awarded the injured police officers at the Abra Provincial Hospital.

The five wounded policemen are PO2 Jessie P. Trinidad, PO1 Marion Dela Paz, PO1 Gerome Baldos, PO1 Kennon Sanggoy, and PO1 Von Harold Layao. They all belong to the Abra Provincial Public Safety Company.

"This is a living testament that ang kapulisan po ninyo ay tumupad sa mandate naming to serve and protect no matter what it costs, no matter what it takes", Sarona said.

(This is a living testament that the police perform its mandate to serve and protect no matter what it costs, no matter what it takes.)

After receiving the award, Baldos, who received severe injuries on his right leg, was airlifted to the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in La Union to receive advanced medical attention.