COTABATO CITY – The National Police Commission in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Napolcom-ARMM) has called on police personnel in the region to always create “bridges” with the community they serve to win public support.
“Let the people feel they are part of crime prevention by regularly engaging them through various services,” Lawyer Esmael Panda, Napolcom-ARMM director, told ARMM police personnel, led by Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, Police Regional Office (PRO)–ARMM director, during an event on Tuesday.
Panda was guest of honor and speaker during Tuesday’s opening ceremonies of the PRO-ARMM Police Community Relations (PCR) Month at Camp Salipada K. Pendatun, Parang, Maguindanao.
Panda said all police personnel in the region, from the regional director down to lowest-ranked officer, must engage the public so they can feel they have roles to play. “You have to ‘make bridges’, connect with the people,” he said.
After the launching program, the PRO-ARMM also accorded police personnel, who performed exemplary acts in the police anti-drug campaign, with the “Medalya ng Kagalingan.”
The awardees were Superintendent Thomas Pantaleon, Police Inspector Karl Vincent Centinaje, Police Officer 3 Abdulgani Langco, Police Officer 2 Dale Carmelo Anaya and Police Officer 2 Cosain Macaindig.
To reach out to the public, Senior Supt. Esmael Ali, PRO-ARMM PCR chief, said his office has lined up activities that will benefit the community. These included a bloodletting program, jail visitations and clean-up drives.
Mijares, for his part, voiced appreciation to communities in the region that have been supportive of the police’s anti-crime prevention programs, even as he ordered the police to intensify outreach programs down to the barangay level.
The PRO-ARMM’s expanse of responsibility includes the region’s component areas comprising the cities of Marawi and Lamitan, and the provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, and Basilan.
The PCR Month celebration for this year is anchored on the theme “Tapat na Serbisyo at Paglilingkod ng Kapulisan Kaagapay ang Mamamayan, Hatid ay Kaunlaran.” (PNA)
