Philippine National Police members serving as commissioned officers without graduating from the military and police academies have vowed to give their all to fulfill their mandate to serve and protect.

The Association of Police Officers via Lateral Entry or APOLE on Saturday celebrated its 19th founding anniversary in Quezon City, with the Manila APOLE being adjudged as the best chapter in the group with 8,876 members.

Members of APOLE-PNP are referred to in police circles as "non-ayers" referring to their being non-graduates of either the Philippine Military Academy or the Philippine National Police Academy.

Commissioned officers are those with ranks from second lieutenant to general.

Manila APOLE was credited for its socio-civic initiatives like distributing medical aid during the pandemic.

Retired P/Lt. Col. Carlo Magno told Daily Tribune that the APOLE-PNP was formed in 2001 but it was legally established in 2006 as a group to provide support to "non-ayers."

"We formed this so skilled police officials who came from the lateral routes would have an organization that would help members in whatever ways we can," Magno, who once served as a Manila police public information officer, said.

APOLE-PNP national president P/Col. Janet Homo said the organization is preparing programs and projects for 2023 to better help the communities they are serving, especially the poor.

Meanwhile, three alleged street-level pushers were nabbed in Sta. Ana Manila, identified by the police as Nadia Guarino, 43; Kevin Cayanan, 29; and Rommel Reyes, 57.

The three were arrested along J. Posadas Street in Punta, Sta. Ana Manila after transacting with a poseur-buyer.

Two grams of shabu worth P13,600 and the marked money were seized from the three who will be charged with violating Sections 5 and 11 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 at the Manila Prosecutor's Office.