LAST week, the editor in chief of this paper asked me to write and maintain a regular column. He told me that there is a need for his readers to get updated with the peace and order situation of our city as well as hear the views of men in uniform. Being part of my job description as the spokesperson of Cocpo, I did not hesitate to grab this opportunity. Here’s my first installment.
I am PSupt Mardy M. Hortillosa II, chief, Police Community Relation Branch and Spokesperson, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, and a member of Philippine National Police, the organization tasked to enforce the law, prevent and control crimes, maintain peace and order and ensure public safety and internal security with the active support of the community.
Let me start by emphasizing that the support of the community is very much crucial in Philippine National Police (PNP) service since the organization can't deploy policeman in every corner of the streets that will deter criminals from executing their criminal acts. We do not have that much officers at our disposal. Peace and order therefore is everybody's concern which dictates that the primary responsible person to secure his or her own security is his or her own self.
The police force can't do it alone without the help of the community because the community is the one who is exposed and is vulnerable to become a victim of crime. If everybody will secure his or her own self, it’s a good indication that crime will most likely not ever to happen. If there will be crimes, it will be seldom or minimal.
On our part, we are doing everything we can to protect civilians. Our police office has strategies being implemented to secure the community such as the Border Checkpoint, Foot Patrol, Mobile Patrol, Random Checkpoint, Intelligence Gathering, Prophylactic or preventive Patrols, Information Dissemination, Risk Assessment and tapping Force Multipliers.
These strategies should be known to the public so that they will learn to appreciate the value of it which will guide the community to share where they can help. This again is the very reason why i take this challenge to have a column.
Rest assured that your Oro police is doing its best to protect the people of the city away from crime and disorder. COCPO always conducts police interventions such as drug operations, immediate police assistance and other interventions to support the maintenance of peace and order and solution of crime.
While our uniform has been tarnished with scalawags before, we have been toiling hard to rid ourselves from dirty cops. With much confidence, you can be assured that on our watch and with your full support and cooperation, Cagayan de Oro is in safe hands.
Happy fiesta mga higala!