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Saturday, July 08, 2006
New PNP head to pursue reforms aggressively, interior chief says
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno expressed confidence over the weekend that newly appointed PNP Chief Oscar Calderon would pursue reforms within the police organization with greater vigor, especially PNP initiatives on forging stronger community partnerships in law enforcement and providing more benefits for its uniformed personnel.
Puno also expressed optimism that Calderon would be able to carry out his banner program of building more housing facilities across the country for PNP personnel, of whom 74,000 remain homeless.
He said he likewise expects Calderon to ably lead the PNP in combating terrorism and helping the military crush the decades-old communist rebellion, after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced that the police would now assume a “shared responsibility” with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the government’s counterinsurgency campaign.
“The new PNP chief has proven his mettle in his 37 years of service in the PNP, but his final test as a police officer has just begun. I am confident that he would be able to continue the initiatives started by his predecessor, former PNP chief Arturo Lomibao, and pursue his own priority programs with greater vigor,” Puno said.
Puno pointed out that Calderon still has to continue the legacy left behind by Lomibao of building modern and better equipped police stations, of which 54 are now serving the communities in the different regions, with 51 more in various stages of construction and another 162 already in the pipeline.
As for Calderon’s pledge to “make the PNP Housing Program the hallmark of (his) administration,” Puno expressed the hope that the new PNP chief would prove true to his words to help restore the dignity and pride of policemen who live in squatters’ shanties and depressed communities.
The DILG chief noted that the number of homeless policemen is highest in Northern Mindanao (68 percent), the Cordillera Administrative Region (66 percent), Central Visayas (66 percent), Eastern Visayas (62 percent) and Metro Manila (62 percent).
Puno also urged Calderon to carry on PNP initiatives on forging stronger partnerships with the community in fighting crime, such as the project involving civic groups in the manning of PNP chokepoints and checkpoints in Metro Manila
“I was glad to learn that among his priorities is to strengthen police-community partnerships in carrying out our campaign against crime. As I have often said, we cannot fulfill our mandate of protecting the public without the help of the members of the community themselves,” Puno said.
The DILG, in partnership with various civic organizations, is now setting up permanent police outposts in 22 chokepoints in Metro Manila to beef up the capability of law enforcers in ensuring public safety and maintaining peace and order in the country’s urban capital.
The mechanics of adopting a similar partnership with the private sector in manning mobile PNP checkpoints are now being worked out too by DILG officials.
Besides offering their assistance in helping man PNP chokepoints in Metro Manila, civic groups are also helping build permanent PNP outposts in these areas. (Press release)
(July 8, 2006 issue)
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