Reporters will be "law enforcers for a day"

CEBU, Philippines - Several media men will be given the chance to be law enforcers for a day by Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), a first in the history of the Philippine National Police.

CCPO Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe initiated the Police-Media Interaction Day or “Police-MIND” program which is scheduled on April 30.

Buenafe said that Police-MIND was conceptualized “to enhance and strengthen the partnership between the police and the local tri-media. 

The program aims to encourage transparency in police operations to dismiss rumors of irregularities within the police force through a better understating of day-to-day constraints of police operations.

Aside from a genuine experience, Police-MIND will empower the private sector to promote concern, harmony and participation in police efforts.

“We (police and the media) are actually the best partners in providing peace of mind to the public. The police provide assurance, while the media publicize this assurance of peace and security,” Buenafe said.

Around 24 members of the Defense-PNP Press Corp (DEPP) will be assigned in key positions of the CCPO. They will be given the privilege to be chief of the 12 police stations and eight special units including the homicide, intelligence, tourist police and other sections.

That day, DEPP president Chito Aragon will be the chief of CCPO. He and other participants will perform routine duties and responsibilities of the police officers assigned in their respective offices. The police chiefs will act as consultants for the media participants.

The program has been sectioned by the Cebu City Government, the National Police Commission and the Police Regional Office – 7.

CCPO has also prepared patrol shirts and police caps for the participants which they will wear during their 24-hour stint as police officers.

DEPP members will continue with their normal day as reporters with an added responsibility as law enforcers for a day. –(FREEMAN)