CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao — Police authorities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday cited the Maguindanao and Basilan police offices for building better police and community relationships through regular engagement with residents.
Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, Police Regional Office (PRO)-ARMM director, cited the Maguindanao and Basilan police offices as outstanding in community initiatives meant to build cooperation among the PNP and the public sector.
During Monday’s culminating program for the month-long observance of the Police Community Relations (PCR) practice, Mijares bared that both provincial police offices were rated outstanding by regional evaluators, who conducted field survey on the community relations thrust of all police units across the region.
“Massive engagements by PCR personnel with the local populace made the police image improved and effective for people have volunteered to provide police with information that helped prevent crime from happening,” Mijares said.
The Basilan PNP-PCR office has succeeded in convincing dozens of extremist Abu Sayyaf gunmen to avail of the government’s amnesty program by returning to the fold of the law while Maguindanao PNP PCR office help warring Muslim families end decades-old clan wars.
Mijares also cited the 118 local government units in the region for their partnership with the police in community relations programs. He said the PRO-ARMM initiatives are gaining acceptance among the locals, who are now provide the police with information of high intelligence value.
“In most cases, these information lead to major accomplishments in the campaign against criminality and illegal drugs,” Mijares said.(Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
