PO1s deployed to augment six Mandaue PNP stations

CEBU, Philippines - At least 20 police officers 1 of the Mandaue City Police Office will be detailed to six police stations in this city the soonest possible time, as directed Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ricardo Marquez.

Senior Superintendent Mariano Natu-el Jr., MCPO director, said the purpose of the Marquez nationwide directive, released last week, would be to increase police visibility in different areas.

With the new order, there will be no more PO1s in the headquarters as they will be out in the field under the supervision of the different police stations.

These PO1s will be part of the 95 percent-5 percent policy of the PNP, which means that 95 percent of the police force will be in the field and only five percent of them will remain in the offices for administrative works, said Natu-el.

Those allowed to do the administrative works will only be the personnel with rans of police Officer 2 and up, Natu-el said, but added that the MCPO will continue recruiting non-uniformed personnel, or NUP, to take charge of the administrative duties left by some policemen who will be in the field.

Natu-el said the hiring of NUPs will help save more money for the police force. “Maka-save ang police kay ang one week training sa mga NUPs human na. Ang police six (months) to two years and then palitan pa nimo og mga firearms. Ang NUPs ballpen lang."

As of now, there are 28 NUPs in the six police stations in the city, and seven others at the MCPO headquarters, said Natu-el.

Natu-el added the hiring of NUPs will help the police force in curbing the volume of crimes, as well as the downloading of PO1s on the field. “Yes. I think it’s effective. We’ll try kun unsa ang iyang degree of effectivity,” he said.

Natu-el also admitted the MCPO still lack police personnel, which has been a perennial problem. He said the ratios of one policeman to every 500 people, for urban areas, and one policeman to every 1,000, for rural areas, are now "very obsolete."

The ideal ratios now is one policeman  to 200 persons, for urban areas, and one policeman to 500 persons for rural areas.  (FREEMAN)