Official ranks Camp Dagohoy-

community relations 9 of 10

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, June 12 (PIA)—A Philippine National Police (PNP) Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) official rates the relationship between the police and the community a good nine out of a scale of ten points.

Police Lieutenant Thomas Zen Cheung, Deputy Director for Police Community Affairs and Development Unit (PCADU) said the way the police force is getting its accomplishments, this just proves that there is a very good police and community relations here.

Lt Cheung, who came to the Kapihan sa PIA in lieu of Police Lieutenant Colonel Norman Nuez, cited the good leadership of the police provincial director, Colonel Lorenzo Alfeche Batuan as a good morale booster which has since kept even the most dreary police stations then, pinning accomplishments.

A man of few words, Col Batuan has started a kind of leadership that allows municipal police offices to double up and work to strengthen the police community relations which, according to Lt Cheung, is the basis for all the good accomplishments that police units are hanging.

We have a very high respect for the PD, who told officers and men of the force, “We do not mind what people say, as long as we do out job.”

“Gawin ang tama, ipairal and disiplina,” Col Batuan’s snappy instruction also in fact started an inspiration that makes Boholanos also proud of making their stations as effective and efficient.

In return, police stations are accomplishing more and more, in a full spirit of close joyful camaraderie with the community, helping to develop more assets from the community to come out and volunteer the information.

“We may not get all those bulk supplies of drugs that have been shipped to Bohol but our police and allied forces intercept them, before these are distributed to patrons in the streets, Zeung said.

He said their biggest source of intelligence information is coming from the community.

Nine out of ten, Lt. Cheung said, although he also admitted that the recent social pulse survey showing a decrease in police trust rating may not be a Bohol thing.

“Fault of one is a fault of all,” he recalled a mantra instilled since their police training camp.

The survey, which showed police trust ratings dipping happened also when some Luzon police personnel were accused of illegal activities including kidnapping for ransom.

And with people getting closer with the police force, the police are seeing good days ahead in getting more accomplishments, topping the region’s police performance and accomplishments.

To build further on the trust that the community is entrusting on to the force, BPPO is now mapping out sustainability plans for their Libreng Alagad ug Balay (LAB).

LAB is a Camp Francisco Dagohoy spearheaded program that gives houses to Law Abiding Boholanos (LAB), LAB being the initials of the Provincial Director.

The municipal police stations, assisted by the municipal social welfare and development offices pick the possible beneficiaries and screen them according to the one in most dire need, secure the funds needed to build the houses from individuals and businessmen, along with personal funds from Bohol’s leading couple Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado and first land Congresswoman Vanessa Aumentado.

The police has built, with their police volunteers, groups and communities, over 20 houses which have been inspired by the Balay sa Gugma and Balay sa Paglaum of the first couple here, and within the month, another two more houses are set to be turned over to their owners.

As these projects helped endear the police to the communities that they serve, the followed this on with Abante Peace Caravan, according to Lt Cheung.

Abante Peace Caravan is another police initiated civic action that includes line government agencies bringing the frontline police and government services to the communities.

We also include feeding programs, medical and dental missions, groceries, slippers, school supplies and operation tuli, all to bring these services to communities who have been deprived and are too ashamed to get to the centers for government services, he said. (PIABohol)