CEBU, Philippines - To enhance their competency in engaging the community in maintaining peace and order, members of patrol units in Central Visayas participated in a development course launched by the Philippine National Police at the Police Regional Office-7 yesterday.
Chief Superintendent Danilo Constantino, head of the PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations, said the national headquarters noticed the lack of engagement of police personnel with the members of the community.
Formerly PRO-7 director, Constantino returned to Cebu to launch the police community affairs and development course, saying PNP members assigned in the beat and mobile patrol units need to be competent enough to make the public feel their presence.
“Most often than not, nakikita ninyo sila nakatayo, nagte-text, nagkukwentuhan. Dapat marunong ang ating patrollers na makipag-ugnayan sa mga mamamayan,” Constantino stressed.
He pointed out that the community plays a significant role in crime prevention and peace preservation, particularly during intelligence operations.
“Ang backbone sa information na nakukuha ng pulis galing din sa community. Malaki ang impact nila sa mission and functions ng PNP,” he said.
Constantino also emphasized that the public also has to be aware that law enforcement is considered to be a shared responsibility between the community and the police force.
The course will also tackle on media management, according to Constantino.
“Kasama na rin how to deal with the media and papaano ang pagsasalita in front of the camera. Siguro after this course, ‘pag walang improvement, ulitin natin. Tingnan natin kung magkakaroon ng pagbabago,” the Camp Crame official said.
Superintendent Renato Dugan, PRO-7 public information officer, expressed gratitude to Constantino for facilitating the development course.
According to Dugan, this is the first time that the said course, which is normally conducted at the national level, is organized at the regional level.
At least 30 police personnel from different patrol units regionwide are participating the 30-day course. — (FREEMAN)