PNP stiffens crime-fighting

by tapping force multipliers

CORTES, Bohol, July 30 (PIA) – Severely outnumbered and staggering from a police to population ratio mismatch of 1:800, Bohol Police Provincial Office adopts a force-multiplier system in advocacy groups that empower local communities to break their shells of silence and be active parts in crime fighting.

Sworn to the task by no less than Philippine Police Chief General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar in his recent Bohol stint were force multipliers composed of multi sectors, who would be the community crime watchers in attempts to make their localities crime-free, and if not, venues where crimes committed are solved just as fast.

Asked on the details of these force multipliers, BPPO Police Community Affairs and Development (PCAD) chief Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Berondo explained that, since the police could not be physically present for everyone every time, somewhere there is somebody who could be a witness who could be a critical key in crime solution.

Daghang panahon nga makawitness og crime, pero kay lagi, kanang crimes, police matter man na sa ilang hunahuna, bahala na ang pulis ana. (There are many times when one can witness a crime, and because they thing crimes are police businesses, they do not care about it) Col. Berondo shared at Kapihan sa PIA explaining a Philippine National Police division called Police Community Relations (PCR).

“Then, crime witnesses simply stay in the sidelines as they think it is not their jobs to do so. Now, we orient them on the task, and formalize a mechanism which can help them get to the police,” the decorated official added.

PCR, which is now being replaced by PCAD, is a police effort to solicit the community’s help and tilt the upsetting balance in police to population ratio.

Here is where the community can help, he stressed.

Taking “Pulisya at Pamayanan, BARANGAYanihan sa Hamon ng Pandemya at Laban sa Krimen” the July PCR month theme as cue, Col. Berondo named the sectors which can significantly contribute to community policing.

For one, sector Kaligkasan (Kaligtasan sa Kalikasan) would be representing those people who work and invest in the environment: resort owners, divers, fishermen, farmers, they are everywhere and could effectively extend the police presence in their areas, Col. Berondo explained.

Other than Kaligkasan, there is the sector on the joint industrial peace which comprises of industry workers, union members, mall crew, and other allied workers.

The Camp Dagohoy official also talked about another sector, now organized: the youth or the Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo (KKDAT) which also encompasses out of school youth and those in the non-formal education.

He also talked about a very active sector in the foreign nationals now living in a community. The Foreign National Keepers Network has been helping the police in several capacities, sometimes enhancing skills and donating equipment, and reporting crimes.

Then there is the institutionalized force multipliers like the Barangay Tanods, fraternities allied with crime fighting, volunteer groups and blue guards.

The police official also mentioned the barangay-based workers who could be crucial in reporting and solving crimes.

Barangay Chairmen, Barangay officials, Barangay Health Workers, Barangay Nutrition scholars, they can help and can be mobilized to help keep peace and order by being part of the crime watch or patching details in police investigations to home in on a suspect, he hinted.

“We are simply putting up a system, there is already that personal compulsion in everyone to report a crime, it is just that they do not know how to do it or they hardly understand it is their job to do that,” Col Berondo added.

Before, it could be hard for people to report crimes, considering the absence of a system, but with the digital and mobile communication lines now accessible to just anyone in the community, reporting or working for crime watch groups is safe, easy and secures one’s role in community peace keeping. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

TAPPING ADVOCACY GROUPS. With the upsetting police to population ratio tilting heavily against the law enforcers, tapping the community’s active participation in crime watch is a critical move, said Col Joseph Berondo of BPPO PCR. This incidentally is also one activity that the Chief PNP looked into when he visited Bohol recently. (PIABohol)