"ANG concern sa WCPD, concern sa tibuok kapulisan sa Talomo. (The concern of WCPD is the concern of all the police personnel in Talomo)."
On August 22, 2019 the Talomo Police Station of Davao City was awarded as the Best Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) unit in the Davao Region.
But in successes like this, we look at the people leading the group and from there, we can see where the success actually is stemming from.
Talomo Police Station WCPD Chief Police Captain Rosario Aguilar started her service in 2011 in the same police station. She underwent lateral training and was assigned to different stations before she came back to Talomo Police Station as a lieutenant in 2015.
As a woman, Aguilar understands that WCPD is the heart of every police station and with this knowledge, she continues to serve best the women and the children by always making available and helpful the unit in her station.
"Mao lang baya na siya ang office na considered as protection. We are the protector of the women and the children. Ang iyahang relevance sa station dako gyud kaayo. Bug-at ang iyang mandatos kay kasagaran man nato na gina-cater ug gina-handle is more on involved on emotion unlike sa mga general investigation cases. WCPD deals with conflict with the husband, live-in partner, ex, and the handling of the children. (That's the only office in the entire station that is considered as a source of protection. We are the protector of the women and the children. It has a huge relevance to the station. It has a heavy mandate because most of the cases we handle involve emotion unlike the general investigation cases)," Aguilar shared.
Given the size of Talomo police station, which is almost equivalent to thrice the size of other police stations in Davao City, Aguilar said most of the cases their WCPD unit handles are of rape involving minors and/or relatives.
"As a woman, we are sensitive man gud. Ang office dako kaayo siya og matabang. Confidential diri tanang sumbong, hinaing, and tanang abuses na ginatug-an diri. (As a woman, we are sensitive. This office can help a lot on that. Everything that they tell us, they complain of here is confidential)," she added.
Being captain of this big police station is synonymous to a huge responsibility put upon her shoulders. When asked how she handles this and still stays on top of everything, Aguilar said it is important to have proper distribution of tasks to see to it that the goals of the units are properly met.
"Dapat naa tay distribution sa tasking kay dili man ta superhero. Naa tay mga personnel strategically deployed in areas with thick population. Kato sila tanan naa to silay obligasyon, (We should have proper distribution of tasks because we are not superheroes. We have static personnel strategically deployed in areas with thick population)," said Aguilar.
Aside from visibility, these personnel also are in charge of information dissemination in schools and barangays for women and children protection-related information.
Despite the WCPD being the unit in the station that involves emotion, Aguilar said it is also vital to be "detached" with the clients to be able to give wiser and sounder advices.
Years of life and police experience have taught Aguilar better personnel and client management.