By John Rey Saavedra/PNA
CEBU CITY — The Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for operations on Monday praised the Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas) for maintaining its highest level of competence in serving the people of the region.
Police Deputy Director General Archie Francisco Gamboa, in his speech during the 28th PNP Foundation Day celebration on Monday, said during command conferences, he would always mention PRO-7’s exemplary performance.
“You are very lucky that amidst administration here in PRO-7, you are led by a very industrious and innovative regional director,” Gamboa said during the celebration held at the regional police headquarters in Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. in this city.
He said PRO-7 headed by Chief Supt. Debold Sinas would not be successful in its operations without the support staff, command group, and the city and municipal police directors.
“Whenever I conduct conference on my oversight (committee) both on internal discipline and illegal drugs, I cannot escape from mentioning Region 7 as my example, he said.
Gamboa also reminded the police in Central Visayas to internalize the directives of President Rodrigo Duterte in relation to the campaign against illegal drugs and insurgency.
He told the police that the PNP is recalibrating the operational thrust involving law enforcement concerns and initiatives to sync well with the national policy.
The operational thrusts of the police force must be in cognizance of Duterte’s thrusts against illegal drugs, Gamboa said.
He said the police organization in the country has also adopted a different approach in the fight against insurgency.
“We need to accomplish the order of the President to finish the insurgency problem in our country. We have neutralized so many of them, but it (should be) in focused law enforcement operations or through other non-violent means,” he said.
Gamboa also reminded the region’s police force regarding the wearing of police uniform, which is “like a sacred national costume that sets us apart and different” from the population.
“The PNP uniform should not be worn lightly,” he said, noting that policemen’s “lives and limbs are at stake every time we wear them on duty, either (we become) wounded or killed in action.”
“From the time we took our oath, we already separated ourselves from ordinary (people). We all became leaders who bridge the barriers between the police force and the greater public, (which) requires massive reforms anchored on leadership by example,” Gamboa said.
