BANGUED, Abra, (PIA) — The Cordillera Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) has put emphasis on the involvement of the communities in Abra to help cops in putting an end to the killings this election period.
“Iyong community ay meron nang fear and ayaw nang magtiwala sa police. But remember, peace and order is a shared responsibility of each and everyone,” Philippine National Police Deputy Chief for Administration Police LtGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. stressed during the emergency Cordillera RPOC meeting at the Camp Juan Villamor in Bangued, Abra.
Nartatez urged the provincial police to hasten efforts to build trust and partnership with the community.
He also appealed for the cooperation and understanding of the people in improving the peace and order situation in the province.
During the meeting, Cordillera RPOC Chairperson Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong also recommended holding continuous dialogues with the community in finding innovative solutions to the peace and order situation in the province.
“Find a way to talk to the people, keep on talking to the people, get their suggestion para lalo niyo pang ma-improve iyong serbisyong ibinibigay sa kanila,” he advised.
Magalong led the discussions on strategies such as increased police presence, improved mobility, and aggressive community engagement efforts to address the alarming increase of crimes, particularly shooting incidents in the province over the past months.
“The Philippine National Police is selling security and safety to the people and it is only the people who will say it is effective. At the end of the day, ang tao ang magsasabi na effective siya (service) kasi nararamdaman nila,” he underscored.
The meeting was participated by Commission on Elections-Cordillera Director Julius Torres, DILG-Cordillera Director Araceli San Jose, PRO-CAR Director PBGen. David Peredo, 501st Infantry Brigade Commander BGen. Dean Mark Mamaril, Acting Governor Russell Bragas.
It was also attended by the civil society organizations and representatives from the religious sectors who are calling and pleading for the killings in Abra to stop. (JDP/CAGT-PIA CAR, Abra)
