In curbing crimes: Police to strengthen public participation

CEBU, Philippines - With a new chief at its helm, the Police Community Relations-Branch of the Cebu City Police Office will focus on getting the community directly involved in catching small-time criminals and repeat offenders.

The newly installed head, Chief Inspector David Señor, said this scheme is also in line with the program of the Philippine National Police called “Oplan Lambat-Sibat,” an intensified anti-crime campaign proposed by the PNP chief, Police Director General Ricardo Marquez.

Señor said that with this program, policemen assigned in beat patrols may get civilian volunteers who can undertake support functions by performing military or police duties.

These civilians should be willing to assist the policemen and would serve as the policemen’s “auxiliary force,” he said.

“Mag-organize sila og auxiliary force: tindera ba, security guard or residents sa ilang beat areas ug kini sila ang motabang sa pulis sa paghatag og information or pag-duty mismo like apil sila sa pag-roving,” Señor said.

The civilian volunteers will be made to undergo training and orientation before they will be deployed to the field.

The PCR-Branch of each police station and the beat patrol personnel will coordinate with each other to organize the unit of civilian volunteers.

Señor believes that if carried out properly, the program will be an effective way of lessening street crimes.

“Kini program ni chief PNP, epektibo baya ni ug i-apply lang gyud ni sa mga police units,” he said.

He, however, said he will still continue the programs and activities that former PCR chief, Superintendent Enrique Belciña started.

Belciña is now the deputy provincial director at the Siquijor Provincial Police Office.

Señor said the greatest challenge as PCR chief is living up to Belciña’s accomplishments, which paved the way for Cebu City to receive awards many times as the best PCR in Central Visayas. — /JMO  (FREEMAN)