Gender empowerment among female officers

CEBU, Philippines — A two-day conference on the role of policewomen in the Philippine National Police (PNP) organization focuses on gender empowerment.

Police Brigadier General Ma. Asuncion Placino, chief of the Regional Personnel Records Division of NCRPO and one of the speakers, said policewomen are traditionally assigned in women’s desk and serve as investigators.

But through the years policewomen have become very competitive and started taking on jobs usually assigned to men.

“Traditionally, the policewomen, mostly, are being assigned in the women’s desk and we are functioning as women investigators who cater to the women and children concerns,” Placino said.

Placino, the lone female PNP general in the country, said that gender equality has evolved in time, some policewomen are already assigned in the operations. In fact, four women officers are assigned as station commanders in Central Visayas.

She also emphasized that policewomen today are active in the community engagement programs.

“Community service is where the policewomen excel…the policewomen is seen now mostly active in the operations. Most of them were in the mobile forces already, PMFCs, and you’ll be surprised that they are performing the job of a male officer,” Placino said.

Placino said she had seen first-hand how the operations are done before in the absence of policewomen, and how it is today with policewomen doing the same phase with the male officers.

“I expect more in the future that they will get out from their box, get out of their comfort zones and try other fields,” Placino said, encouraging female officers to embrace changes.

According to Placino, a study shows that women officers have several advantages over their male counterparts because ‘women are good speakers, women could inspire, and women could influence.’

She said these qualities are helpful in getting their mission done. Placino added that the community tends to trust the policewoman more. Thus, policewomen are very good in conveying information.

“A woman could be steadfast, very determined. There is mind-setting, and then you can never change a mind of a woman. All throughout, consistent, ” Placino said.

She also dismissed apprehensions that policewomen are prone to sexual harassment and exploitation. Placino said they have not recorded any incident yet where a female officer was subjected to sexual harassment. (FREEMAN)