“Squadding” to help cops face problems

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Police Office launched yesterday morning a program they hope will address problems encountered by policemen when it comes to their moral and spiritual recovery; squadding.

CCPO launched this restorative and preventive program part of the intensified internal cleansing program of the PNP as well as to address the personal problems of police personnel.

Under squadding, policemen will be assigned into groups of 10 led by a “life coach” who will guide them on morality and spirituality. That coach will be a non-uniformed personnel.

The concept of squadding is taken from the Philippine Military Academy, the Philippine National Police Academy, and other training schools where the squad considered the smallest unit of the trainees.

CCPO director of Cebu City, Police Colonel Gemma Vinluan said resistance to corruption and to involvement in illegal drugs will be some of the virtues to be instilled in policemen by squadding program.

Police Major General Cesar Hawthorne Binag, director for Information and Communication Technology Management of Camp Crame, also the speaker of the launching ceremony, emphasized that it is better to address the personal problems of the police personnel as early as possible.

“Dito sa squadding ay pwede nating itong magamit sa preventive. Ito ‘yung mga issues na nasa early stage pa lang, ang mga problema ng mga tao natin ay pwede na nilang mapag-usapan doon na may life coach sila,” Binag told reporters after the launching ceremony ended.

“Dahil tingnan ‘nyo, ang pinakamaraming kaso nating ng mga na di-dismiss AWOL, pag tinanong ‘nyo yung PO1 na nag-AWOL, ‘Sir family problem’,” he added.

Binag also explained why they chose non-uniform personnel to lead the squad, saying they realized that there aspects and areas of a policeman’s life that is better addressed by someone who is not in uniform.

“Lalo na sa spiritual…kasi ito sila mga trained to sa leadership, sa management, pwede silang pumasok doon… So kung meron tayong isang person sa loob na nakakaunawa ng sitwasyon mo, nakakaunawa ng trabaho mo, ito ‘yung squad, may life coach maa-address ‘yun,” Binag said, referring to the non-police personnel. — BRP (FREEMAN)