Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Chief Jail Director Allan Iral commended the historic feat of Crystalene Gonzales in the 19th International Practical Shooting Confederation in Thailand.
Together with Evelyn Woods, Rizza Vidallon and Maria Joahna Catalan, Gonzales captured the second spot behind Italy in the Team Production Division Ladies' Category of the prestigious global shooting competition.
"We are proud that one of our BJMP officers became a member of the Philippine Team and won in this global shooting competition," Iral said in a statement over the weekend.
"And, we are grateful too for her efforts of teaching our personnel to do better in marksmanship and armed defense as we continuously improve our skill sets to do better in our custodial and escorting duties."
Gonzales pursued her passion for practical shooting after her Philippine National Police Academy graduation in 2009.
"I've been doing the sport since my cadetship days at the Philippine National Police Academy and it is an absolute honor for me to represent the country," Gonzales said.
She became an instructor at the National Jail Management and Penology Training Institute and a resource speaker to various armed defense forums and seminars.
"For dreamers out there like me who is in this kind of sport, find a good teacher to help you because in my case, without my coaches, I am nothing," said Gonzales as she explained the value of mentoring in sport while giving the credit to her coaches: Senior Jail Officer 4 Florante Goyena Jr., Johann Abanilla, Aldrin Gonzales, and Technical Sergeant Willard Carera.
"Keep on practicing and stay focused in sharpening your skills because it took me more than a decade before I reached this stage."
