A daughter of a police colonel topped this year’s 304 graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), the first female cadet to graduate as valedictorian since the schooling for future police officials became a four-year course in 2004.

But joining the police force never crossed the mind of 22-year-old Roan Marie Dinlo Bascugin until she was encouraged by her father to do so while she was taking up BS Psychology at the University of the Philippines-Diliman Campus.

“He’s the one who encouraged me; he served as my inspiration while in the Academy,” Bascugin said in an interview, referring to Superintendent Rustico Bascugin, who presently heads a unit at the Police Community Relation Group (PCRG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The senior Bascugin, who was also assigned as spokesman of the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) Regional Police and chief of the Cavite City Police, is also a graduate of the PNPA (Class of 1984).

Bascugin, of Alfonso, Cavite, said she never actually expected that she would top the PNPA Kaisang-Bisig Class of 2009, adding that all she did was what was expected of her as a police cadet.

She, however, said that in her four years at the PNPA, she always made sure that she would give her best, not to impress her instructors, but a matter of personal belief.

“You don’t settle for the middle. You should always aim high because if you fail to be on top, at least you will still be the second best,” said Bascugin.

Bascugin, who requested that she be assigned to Central Luzon when they report to duty after less than a month of academic break, will be the third cop in their family. Her elder brother is also a cop with a rank of Police Officer 1.

“He will certainly salute me, but in our house, he will always be my kuya,” Bascugin said, adding that she is also expected to salute her father.

Other cadets who made it to the top 10 are:

2. Mark Anthony Paraiso Omega, of Ormoc City;

3. Cecelio Quevedo Orcullo, of Surigao del Sur;

4. Freddie Comising Herry, of Kapangan, Benguet;

5. Manolo Andrew Maganda Caoile, of Makilala, North Cotabato;

6. John Gary Alcantara Erana, of Zamboanga del Sur;

7. Herminio Laminoza Olivares, of Bugallion, Pangasinan;

8. Ariel Badua Arellano, of Albay;

9. Stefanio Andrenicus Abaca Rabino, of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro; and

10. Don Richmon Taguba Conag, of Piat, Cagayan.

Aside from being the valedictorian of the class, Bascugin will also receive the PNP Kampilan Award for being the top cadet who opted to join the police force during the graduation rites on March 26 at the PNPA in Silang, Cavite.

Bascugin is set to aim high again once she formally joins the police force—to be the first female PNP chief.