The New Bilibid Prison – National Headquarters (NBP – NHQ) proudly held the graduation ceremony of the Corrections Officer Custodial Basic Course (COCBC) Class 2024-02 DASIG-TIKAS on 14 March 2025. The ceremony took place at the CNTI Parade Ground, with DIRECTOR GENERAL GREGORIO PIO P CATAPANG JR., AFP (Ret.), CESE, CCLH, gracing the event as the Guest of Honor and Speaker.
The graduating class, DASIG-TIKAS, which stands for “Disiplinadong Aksyon na may Sinsiridad at Integridad Gabay sa Tungkulin ng Institusyong Koreksyon at Alay sa Sambayanan – para sa Bagong Pilipinas,” exemplifies the core values of discipline, integrity, and public service. The class is part of the decentralized training program aimed at strengthening the competence of Corrections Officers nationwide.
A total of 328 graduates, composed of 315 Corrections Officer 1 trainees and 13 Corrections Technical Officer 1 trainees, successfully completed the course. Among the graduates are 41 females and 287 males, who took their oath on 15 July 2024, and underwent in-house training that includes military professionalism, rigid physical conditioning, firearm proficiency, self-defense tactics, academic lectures, and on-the-job experiences at the Corrections National Training Institute (CNTI).
The following graduates of the COCBC Class 2024-02 DASIG-TIKAS were recognized for their outstanding performance and leadership:
Top 10 Performing Students:
- CO1 Refuerzo, Lucky Riza Abique
- CO1 Palaganas, Marlon Torres
- CO1 Buenaobra, Christian Mañibo
- CO1 Macalintal, Crisologo Anoyo
- CO1 Pagaspas, Herwin Quinao
- CO1 Distor, Robby Bern Bolneo
- CO1 Chao-ag, Ramel Tadchanan
- CO1 Moral, Brian Fermis
- CO1 Balonggay, Louis Jr. Canabang
- CO1 Malinao, Jefferson Fariscal
Special Awards:
Leadership Award: CO1 Caringal, Dal Valdemar Jerusalem (Class President)
Tactical Leadership Award: CO1 Osorio, Christopher Rania (Brigade Commander)
Bernardo Carpio Award:
Male Category: CO1 Sumaclub, Jon Francis Surtida
Female Category: CO1 Ganagan, Rose Marie Uyam/CO1 De Castro, Glenda Baesa
Top Gun Award:
Male Category: CO1 Bunuan, Bryan Canapi
Female Category: CO1 Ferrer, Dahlia Belarma
Best Company:
CO1 Buensoceso, Jennelyn Pacheco (Alpha Company Commander)
Best Platoon:
CO1 Navalez, Jerome Pedrose (2nd Platoon Leader, Alpha Company)
The decentralized training program produced a total of 1,008 new corrections officers, including 802 males and 206 females, across various Operating Prisons and Penal Farms (OPPF). Aside from the NBP – NHQ graduates, several other Local CNTI Units have already held their graduation ceremonies. Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) was the first to graduate 188 trainees on 07 February 2025, followed by Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF) with 77 graduates on 10 February 2025. Leyte Regional Prison (LRP) and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (SRPPF) conducted their ceremonies on 07 March 2025, graduating 128 and 92 trainees, respectively. The final graduation for the COCBC Class 2024-02 DASIG-TIKAS will take place on 24 March 2025, at Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF), with 195 trainees expected to graduate.
In his keynote address, DG CATAPANG reminded the graduates to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in their service, emphasizing that erring personnel will be removed from the ranks. He urged the new Corrections Officers to always demonstrate their best character and perform their duties with excellence, as they now represent the core values of the Bureau.
DG CATAPANG also praised the success of the decentralized training program, which was made possible through the concerted efforts of the Local CNTI Units under the supervision of CNTI Acting Director CSUPT LUCIO C GUEVARRA and Deputy Director and Commandant CSINSP ALLAN A ROSALES, with the support of OPPF Superintendents, and the guidance of the BuCor Director General himself.
This achievement marks a significant step forward in the BuCor’s mission of professionalizing correctional services and aligns with the vision of Bagong BuCor sa Bagong Pilipinas.
