‘Mariknak adu pay iti mabalin tayo maitulong’ – Ret. PBGen. Ludan

Retired PBGen. Steve Ludan spent almost 35 years of his life serving the country and the people before he retired in 2022. While this is the perfect time for him to finally indulge in slow mornings and enjoy quality time with his family, he said he knows he is not done serving the public yet.

Ludan, one of the three congressional aspirants in Kalinga, appeared before the local media during the ‘Know Your Candidates’ forum hosted by the Tabuk City Information Office this December 5 where he shared more information about himself.

The retired brigadier general who wrapped up his 3-decade of public service as the regional director of the Cagayan Valley police shared he came out of retirement and filed his Certificate of Candidacy for the House of Representatives because he wanted to become an instrument for the betterment of his home province Kalinga.

“Ket as a full retired police officer, mayat kuma ta gan-ganasek lang agpaspasyar idiay abroad ta adda met pension tayon, adda met bassit nga negosyo, ngem daytoy ngarud ta nakarit iti rikna tayo apo nga agsubli iti public service ta iti ammuk, mariknak nga adu pay lang iti mabalin tayo nga maitulong kadagitoy kakailyan tayo nga Kalinga,” he told the media. 

Who is Steve Ludan?

Ludan whose roots could be traced to Tanudan, Benguet, and Mountain Province has a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1992. While he chose the uniformed service, he made sure to keep educating himself along the way, earning a law degree in 2005, a Masters in Legal Studies in Criminal Justice Administration, and a Masters Degree in Management.

To better equip himself in his field, he also studied courses abroad like executive management in the USA, crime investigation in Thailand, hostage negotiation in Australia, and a police senior management course in the Netherlands. 

In his almost 35 years in the PNP, he held various positions such as Regional Director of the PRO2, Director of the PNP Forensic Group, Chief of the Administration and Personnel of the United Mission in East Timor, Chief of the Budget and Management Division of the PNP, director of the provincial mobile group companies, and Chief of Police in various stations particularly in Visayas and Mindanao.

In December 2022, he mandatorily wrapped up his work in the government.

“Nalpas tayo metten nga nag-retire compulsorily at the age of 56, at the age of 56 dayta apo iti mandatory. Nag-retire tayo apo with full honors and full pension benefits entitled to a retired police military officer,” he said.

Call of the Time

Among the questions raised by GURU Press Cordillera during the forum on Thursday for the political aspirants is the turning point or scenarios in their life that made them want to be a leader, Ludan answered that there are times where one has to stand to lead – whether voluntarily or they are appointed. This is what he referred to as ‘call of time,’ where the most qualified one is needed to stand particularly amidst emergency situations.  

He recalled when he was in East Timor and was assigned to a place where there was no peace and order. In his two years in the said foreign country, he was qualified and appointed as chief in administration, representing the Philippine government.

Now that he is retired, his ‘call of time’ is the present situation in Kalinga, where the province, he said, is left behind by its neighboring provinces in some aspects. This prompted him to file his COC.

‘Nariribuk nga ili, lapped iti progreso’

While he had zero experience in politics, Ludan wants to bring the wisdom and leadership he had accumulated from his education and extensive experiences in leading various PNP units to the Kalinga people.

“Daytoy peace and order ket isu iti maysa nga makunak nga maysa nga asset tayo nga mabalin tayo nga maipakat ditoy ili tayo nga Kalinga ta ammo tayo met dagitoy problema tatta nga maar-aramid,” he said.

Ludan supplied that under his command as the regional director of the Cagayan Valley, the region recorded the most peaceful elections ever held in region 2.

“Ket dayta iti maysa nga mai-connect tayo nga commitment tayo nga itultuloy tayo nga itakder pagsayaatan iti Kalinga especially iti peace and order tanu nariribuk iti ili tayo, lapped iti progreso ken pagsayaatan iti tunggal maysa ken sapasap nga Kalinga,” he pledged.