Friday, June 20, 2008 3,000 join torch run to inform public of reforms undertaken by police force
MORE than 3,000 people joined yesterday morning’s torch run of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The “Transformation Torch Run,” now on its 11th leg, seeks to inform the public about the PNP’s 10-year integrated transformation program (ITP).
Police Deputy Director General Jesus A. Versoza described the Central Visayas crowd as the biggest delegation so far in the entire country.
Versoza, in his speech, said the torch is a symbol of reform for all the 17 police regional offices across the country. It is also meant to generate heightened public awareness of on-going reforms within the PNP.
The program was launched in 2005. The torch has been relayed to the different regional offices in Luzon.
Projects
Yesterday’s activity was the last leg for the Visayas.
”The program involves pro-active projects that will transform our organization into a highly capable, effective and credible police force,” Versoza said, who serves as the transformation manager and the executive director of the PNP Program Management Office.
With Chief Supt. Samson Tucay as torch bearer, the event kicked off at 5:30 a.m. yesterday - taking the route from the Asiatown IT Park in Barangay Lahug to the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.
The run gathered 3,456 participants: 1,887 from the police force with representations from the respective police offices of the region’s four provinces and units led by Police Regional Office (PRO) 7; Armed Forces of the Philippines, government agencies, non-government organizations, barangay intelligence networks, private sectors and criminology students from different colleges and universities.
Turnover
The police priority projects included in the transformation program are PNP housing, health care system, legal assistance program to police officers who are facing charges related to their jobs, strengthening of their values and leadership school.
Also included in the program are a proposed legislation to remove pending cases as disqualification for promotion of PNP uniformed personnel if the cases are service-related; upgrading of the PNP Crime Laboratory and mobilization and communication equipment and logistics improvement.
At the CICC yesterday, Chief Supt. Abner Cabalquinto, Eastern Visayas Police Regional Office director, formally turned over to PRO 7 the torch, which was received by Chief Supt. Roderos.
“We pledged to continue doing good until the better becomes the best,” Cabalquinto said, in turning over the torch to Roderos.
Roderos, on the other hand, said “the police is the protector of people’s rights and nation’s security.”
On July 4, Roderos will turn over the torch to PRO 13 (Caraga Region) officials. (JST)
