Police, Criminology interns help pack shelter kits for super typhoon victims

CEBU, Philippines - Policemen on schooling yesterday skipped going home to help prepare shelter kits for super typhoon Yolanda victims along with Criminology interns from the University of the Visayas (UV).

Led by Supt. Edwelito Rosales, Regional Training School (RTS)-7 director, 53 policemen sorted nails, folded tarpaulins, grouped cooking and dining implements and carried boxes loaded with hardware items meant for families affected by the super typhoon.

“Alam naman natin anong nangyari; at kahit papaano kapamilya na rin natin silang mga nasalanta.  Kaya kami nandito tulong-tulong talaga (We all know what happened, and one way or another we consider the victims as family.  That is why we are here, helping),” said Rosales, grandson of former Cebu Police Provincial Office director Maximo Calimlim.

He said he received orders from Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 director, for them to proceed to the Casa Gorordo Museum to assist the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) in packing of shelter kits for Yolanda victims.

He was joined by police officers taking their Officers Basic Course and those having their Public Safety Senior Leadership Course (PSSLC) at the new RTS camp in Consolacion town. 

“It was an order naman that was easy to follow. We were ordered by the PNP director, but we like to think we volunteered here,” said Rosales.

SPO3 German Soroño, president of the PSSLC class, said that while they were just following orders from their superiors, they considered what they did as part of their community service.

“Anytime we are ready to render service. That is our job. We are complying with the order, ug nakita man namo nga sa among gibuhat daghang pamilya among naserbisyohan. Dili lisod ang (and we saw that with what we do many are served. So it was not hard to) pag-comply,” he said.

Besides, Soroño said, they have been helping in other relief efforts they did not hesitate to respond even it means foregoing visiting their respective homes and seeing their loved ones.

“Supposedly we are under pass, but it is not a right, just a privilege given to us at the discretion of the RD (regional director),” he said.

Yesterday, they were joined by 80 UV criminology interns who took a leave from their Saturday calisthenics just to help the foundation prepare the shelter packs.

The future police officers worked alongside the RTS policemen.

Jeffrey Beldenisa, class president and chief intern of the criminology students, said that while they have their internship from Monday to Friday each week, their commandant allowed them to skip their usual calisthenics to help RAFI.

“Maayo sab pud ni kay makatabang mi (It is good that we are also able to help),” he said. (FREEMAN)