PNP chief seeks to broaden anti-crime programs

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza yesterday expressed hope that a two-pronged program to involve communities in building an effective antidote to violence and crime will be continued and expanded by his successor.

In a press briefing, Mendoza said that soon after his appointment last year, he embarked on two community-based programs as lasting deterrents to crime. First of those programs, he said, was a protection program involving schools in partnership with the police.

"What we did was to help teachers organize school community coordinating councils. The councils planned, implemented, supervised and monitored crime prevention programs within a school campus and its immediate vicinity," he said.

The councils took charge of increasing student awareness of the dangers of illegal drugs, criminality, campus violence and similar potentials for crime in schools. They also built networks with local officials, civic leaders and other non-government organizations. And third, they initiated sports activities and other physical education programs. Most of the crime prevention activities were handled by the councils while the police simply maintained effective presence in the campuses against criminal elements.

The second program, Mendoza added, involved the church in the prevention of the sale and use of illegal drugs in communities. These were similar to the school-based councils but with wider areas of coverage. The church community coordinating councils conducted seminars, forums, conferences and other public gatherings to enlighten members on the dangers of illicit drugs and the ill-effects of public apathy.

Mendoza said that the twin programs designed to empower communities to play active roles in crime prevention, especially in checking the spread of drug use and abuse, proved successful in several pilot areas.

"In fact, "Mendoza said, "some of the winners in the 2001 Ten Outstanding Policemen of the Philippines (TOPP) chosen by the Jaycees and the Metro Bank Foundation, were selected for their involvement in community-based crime prevention organizations."

The most successful were those involved in anti-drug abuse programs.