IT was supposed to be just another news forum hosted by the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA), of which this author happens to be the President until our guest turned so emotional and shed tears.
PBGen. Andre Dizon, Director of the Manila Police District (MPD) no less, unexpectedly cried in an emotionally-charged narration of how he rose from being a poor provincial boy to the chief of police of the country’s capital city and later, as a cop, how at one point in his life, he thought his career was over.
Being a co-host of our Vice President Andi Garcia, I usually get to throw the first question. I asked Dizon what went inside his head when he was informed that he would be leading the top police district in the country.
He began his answer by going back to the day when he first set foot in Manila, as a young, poor boy from the province of Sorsogon.
“Noong 1978, dinala po ako ng tatay ko sa Luneta galing probinsiya para magpa-picture, Di ko akalain na ‘yung eight years old na ‘yun ay magiging chief of police ng Maynila, so, it’s a very touching reality na nangyari sa buhay ko. This is part of God’s purpose na dito ako dinala,” Gen. Dizon told the ‘MACHRA’s Balitaan’ hosted by MACHRA at the Century Seafood Restaurant. His voice suddenly cracked and he stopped, holding back his tears.
Having regained composure, Gen. Dizon continued: “Di ko ipapahiya ‘yung mga naging mentors ko na nag-guide sa akin bilang officer ng PNP… kaya ako naiyak kasi naalala ko ‘yung mga great leaders gaya ni Mayor Lim at Senator Bato, mga iyakin din po ‘yun kaya binibilang ko sarili ko sa kanila.
Ang mga pages-serbsiyo kasi nila, ‘yung galing talaga sa…’yung galing ka sa mahirap.
“Tapos, dumating pa ‘yung time na may pinagdaanan akong mabigat na kaso sa career.. akala ko katapusan ko na. Pero it was God’s redirection to make me a better officer,” Gen. Dizon shared, This time around, Gen. Dizon became all choked up and already began to wipe his eyes.
The room fell silent you could hear a pin drop. At this point, I began to comfort the good general as colleague Juliet de Loza hollered, ‘bakit pinaiyak mo?!?’ Andi got up from his seat to get a table napkin and put it in front of Gen. Dizon while our staff Jun Reloban brought him a glass of water.
After finally composing himself, Gen. Dizon jokingly said: “Kayo kasi,” bringing those present to laughter. I was supposed to ask a follow-up question but chose not to in the meantime and instead give the floor to my colleagues to set another tone.
I learned that Gen. Dizon faced a trial during his stint as a budget officer but that it was eventually dismissed and what happened was a complete vindication on his part.
“Ganun talaga, may mga pangyayari na dumarating sa buhay to teach us a lesson and make us stronger. Now I am back and I will always give my best. Ever since pumasok kami sa serbisyo, itinuro sa amin magbigay ng quality service. Whatever capacity ang hahawakan, we are trained to always give our best,” he stressed.
Being at the MPD is nothing new to Gen. Dizon. In fact, he considers himself a ‘balikbayan’, having been with the said district way back in 1998. He served as a close aide both to Gen. Sonny Razon who was then head of the same police district and former Mayor Lito Atienza.
Having risen from the ranks, Gen. Dizon says serving the capital city is a great honor, since he always hears and also believes in the saying that ‘where Manila goes, the country goes.’
With all humility, Gen. Dizon says that he is determined to give his best for Manila, that he will not disappoint his mentors and in fact intends to make them proud. I’m sure they already are.
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