Camacho leads newest batch of Saipan firefighters

Nineteen new firefighters, including a woman, are joining Saipan’s Fire Division.

The 19 fire cadets from Saipan graduated yesterday at the 9th Cycle Fire Academy.

The new firefighters took their oath of office before CNMI Supreme Court associate justice Alexandro C. Castro during a ceremony at the Pacific Islands Club’s Charley’s Cabaret.

Joaquin T. Camacho emerged as the cycle’s valedictorian while Albert Lee T. Aldan was the salutatorian.

Robert P. Camacho and Jerome Q. Repeki were both adjudged most physically fit.

Robert P. Camacho was also chosen as top firefighter, while Linus Mizutani Jr. received the gallantry award.

Christine S. Funkugubk, the lone female in the cycle, became the fourth female firefighter in the CNMI. Except for one who is already retired, all female firefighters are on active duty on Saipan.

Department of Public Safety Commissioner Santiago F. Tudela challenged all the new firefighters to do their “best with honesty, loyalty, dedication, and integrity.”

“Don’t ever forget that the badge you wear is a faith entrusted in you as a public servant and that badge is as good as the person who wears it,” Tudela said.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Villagomez, Commissioner Tudela and Fire acting director Juan I. Wabol presented the certificates and awards to the graduates.

The 13 other new firefighters are Jesse D. Arriola Jr., John C. Babauta, Rodney C. Cabrera, Francisco A. Cruz, Gary S. Cruz, Robert C. Cruz, Lorenzo V. Deleon Guerrero, Alejandro M. King, Ralphael L. Magofna, Richard D. Manalo Jr., Benjamin T. Manglona, Elden M. Sablan, and Vincent F. Sablan.

In an interview with Saipan Tribune, valedictorian Camacho said he feels that everybody in the cycle deserves to get the award because they all went through the training and succeeded.

“Being a valedictorian is only through points; through graduation everybody is valedictorian,” said the 26-year-old Camacho.

He said the training was intense and that there’s a lot of curriculum that they had to go through.

Funkugub told Saipan Tribune that graduating as the only female in the cycle made her very proud of herself.

“It’s hard,” said the 20-year-old Funkugub about the four-month academy. “I did it for my family, especially my mom.”

Firefighter Lt. Kevin L. Aldan said the academy lasted for four months and that all the graduates will be assigned on Saipan.

“They’re all the same with the other batches. The only difference is that every cycle that comes through, you will be lucky if there is a female. This batch has one,” said Aldan, who served as the officer-in-charge for the Fire Academy.

With the addition of the 19 new graduates, Saipan now has 89 firefighters.