From Bohol to the world

PNP sets up Global PCR

CORTES, Bohol, July 27 (PIA) – We have heard it too many times: an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is abused abroad and is practically helpless with the embassies beyond reach, or kids of parents working abroad desperately want to connect to their parents, but have nowhere to go for want of such mechanism.

Filling this gap, the Philippine National Police (PNP) seeks to establish and strengthen the relation of Filipino families separated by distance, in a new program called the Global Police Community Relations (Global PCR), explains Police Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Berondo during the recent Kapihan sa PIA.

Col. Berondo, who sits as the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) Police Community Affairs and Development (PCAD) Section said connecting families separated by distance and work also allows the local police to potentially promote and preserve peace and security here as well as abroad.

Recently launched with the assumption of Police Director for PCR, General Rhodel Sermonia, the Global PCR now allows Filipinos to report crimes abroad and strengthens the line of assistance from the PNP to the families who are separated by circumstances of work.

Families become dysfunctional when parents leave their kids to relatives so they can work for their family’s future. For the kids, it is easy to share their emotional problems, growth issues and life concerns with parents, not as much with relatives. This is where problems start, explains Col Berondo, who believes creating the line that connects families could solve many problems.

Kids left on their own to settle their emotional problems often go to peers, which can lead to more serious problems, triggering a dangerous life of crimes, Col Berondo cited.

“In our own little way, we’ll be able to address their [problems especially the] emotional problems that they will encounter, or if their loved ones who left [in] the Philippines are encountering [also] some emotional problems abroad, Gen Sermonia was quoted in reports.

In essence, the Global PCR seeks to improve communication between the police force and Filipinos everywhere. The program has a crucial social media component that will make it easier for Filipinos to submit tips to the PNP.

With the program however, Camp Dagohoy officials admit getting the data on families with members abroad.

They have nothing to fear, these are all protected under the data privacy act, authorities have been saying.

All we are trying to do is strengthen family ties which we believe could bolster family relationships and avert problems especially crimes which are at the end of situations like this, Col. Berondo argued.

One more thing, police said another objective [is] to show all our kababayans all over the world that the Philippine government under the leadership of our President Duterte is again coming up with a very strong program which is tapang at malasakit, or shall we say courage and compassion, and would like to show to you this global PCR that another malasakit for more than 10 million Filipinos all over the world, according to Gen. Sermonia.” (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

FROM BOHOL TO THE WORLD. Bohol PNP PCR chief Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Berondo urges Boholanos with family members abroad to register in the Global PCR to reestablish the links of families broken by circumstances of distance. (PIABohol)