Police, firm ink pact for peace, security

Thursday, February 2, 2012

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) in Northern Mindanao and the Philippine Association of Detective and Private Security Agency Organization (Padapao) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) Thursday to strengthen their ties in maintaining peace and security in the region.

Police Regional Director Jufel Adriatico said the MOA also aims to increase the effectivity of the police’s campaign against criminality in the region.

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Adriatico urged both the members of Padpao and the PNP to pursue their commitments to serve the community and protect the people.

“There should be coordinative efforts between the policemen and the security guards whose primordial concern is also the security of a particular place,” he said.

Adriatico lauded the Padpao members, especially the security guards who have helped save the lives of those who were affected by the flash flood in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities last December.

He said the security guards did a heroic act, “unmindful of their own safety.”

Nicolas Raagas, president of Padpao in Northern Mindanao, assured the PNP officials of their commitment to help and support their program in serving the people of the region.

“Padpao members, operators, owners, managers and supervisors commit to help the police in whatever calamity, criminality and other programs as force multipliers of the PNP,” Raagas said.

At present, Padpao has at least 10,000 personnel in Northern Mindanao.

Under the agreement, the PNP will provide trainings and seminars, among others, to the personnel of Padpao on intelligence information gathering, including the manner of reporting and coordination with concerned authorities.

PNP Chief Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome witnessed the MOA signing and emphasized that the security guards, as force multipliers, are effective tools for the police.

Bartolome said the security guards can engage in any kind of response as needed and even apply the citizen’s arrest as any individual can do.

He said the security guards could also help policemen immediately secure crime scene for the preservation of pieces of evidence before the Scene of the Crime Operatives arrive in the area.

“If you can help us in this aspect, we will appreciate it,” Bartolome said.

He said the security guards will be of great help in the maintenance of peace and security since they are familiar with the people entering the establishments they are guarding. (ALR)