TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) – An official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) rates the relationship between the police and the community a good nine out of a scale of ten points.
Police Lt. Thomas Zen Cheung, deputy director for Police Community Affairs and Development Unit (PCADU), said the way the police force has achieved its accomplishments proves that there is a good police and community relations here.
Cheung, during the Kapihan sa PIA, cited the good leadership of the police provincial director, Col. Lorenzo Alfeche Batuan, as a good morale booster.
A man of few words, Batuan has started a kind of leadership that allows municipal police offices to double up and work to strengthen the police community relations which Cheung said is the basis for the accomplishments the police units have achieved.
“We have a very high respect for the provincial director, who told officers and men of the force ‘We do not mind what people say, as long as we do our job,’” said Cheung.
In return, police stations are accomplishing more and helping to develop more assets from the community to volunteer information that would help police operations.
“We may not get all those bulk supplies of drugs that have been shipped to Bohol but our police and allied forces intercept them, before these are distributed to patrons in the streets,” Zeung said.
He said their biggest source of intelligence information is coming from the community.
Cheung, however, admitted that the recent social pulse survey showing a decrease in police trust rating may not be happening in Bohol.
The survey, which showed a dip in police trust ratings, happened also when some Luzon cops were accused of illegal activities, including kidnapping for ransom.
To build further on the trust that the community, BPPO is now mapping out sustainability plans for their Libreng Alagad ug Balay (LAB).
LAB is a Camp Francisco Dagohoy-led program that provides houses to Law Abiding Boholanos (LAB).
The municipal police stations, assisted by the municipal social welfare and development offices, identify the possible beneficiaries, secure the funds needed to build the houses from individuals and businessmen, along with personal funds from Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and first lady, Cong. Vanessa Aumentado.
The police have built, with police volunteers, groups and communities, over 20 houses that were inspired by the Balay sa Gugma and Balay sa Paglaum of the Aumentado couple.
Within the month, two more houses are set to be turned over to their owners.
As these projects helped endear the police to the communities that they serve, the police force also implemented the Abante Peace Caravan, said Cheung.
Abante Peace Caravan is another police-initiated civic action that includes line government agencies bringing frontline government services to the communities.
“We also include feeding programs, medical and dental missions, groceries, slippers, school supplies and operation tuli, all to bring these services to communities who have been deprived and are too shy to go to the centers for government services,” Cheung said. (RAHC/PIA Bohol)
