Olimpia López, the Government Subdelegate in Lugo, presided over the institutional event for the Day of the Pillar, the patron saint of the Guardia Civil, alongside Colonel Luis Germán Avilés. During her speech, López emphasised the dedication, professionalism, and community service of the agents working in the province.
She expressed gratitude for the commitment of the Guardia Civil to public safety, noting the human aspect of an institution with over 180 years of history. "In a territory like Lugo, characterised by its vastness and dispersed population, the presence of the Guardia Civil is more than just a guarantee of safety. It represents closeness and trust, knowing that even in the smallest towns, there is an institution to turn to when problems arise," she stated.
López highlighted that Lugo remains one of the safest provinces in Spain, referencing a 5.22% decrease in criminal activities during the first quarter of 2026, with 2,196 incidents reported compared to the same period in 2025. She attributed these figures to the daily preventive and investigative work carried out by the agents.
Community engagement and notable interventions
During her address, López recalled various operations conducted by the Guardia Civil in the province, including Operation DILINGER, which led to the arrest of two individuals attempting a second bank robbery in Cervantes. The investigation also recovered items linked to the initial crime.
She also praised an incident earlier this year at the Lugo Command, where three Guardia Civil officers saved a minor in urgent need of medical attention by performing the Heimlich manoeuvre. "The uniform identifies the institution, but it is the individuals who wear it that give it meaning," López remarked, advocating for a balance between strict law enforcement and community engagement.
Acknowledgements and awards
During the ceremony, 21 commendations were awarded to members of the Guardia Civil and other security forces in recognition of their professional merits and services rendered. Among those honoured were Captain Manuel Garrido Vázquez and Sergeant First Eugenio Maximino Martínez Pérez, who received the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Guardia Civil with a white badge.
Other notable recognitions included the Cross of Military Merit with a white badge awarded to Corporal First Miguel Rosón González and Guardia Civil José Luis Barrio Abelaira. The event also featured a tribute to Domingo Cabanas Fieiras, a 95-year-old retired Guardia Civil officer, as the oldest member of the institution in the province, who received a commemorative plaque for his years of service.
López concluded her remarks by thanking the professionalism, collaboration, and commitment of the agents to public safety and citizens' rights, stating, "Authority exercised with humanity does not lose strength; it gains respect."
