Aguilar backs police reforms

Las Piñas Mayor Imelda Aguilar has vowed to support to reforms being instituted by the city’s new chief of police, Superintendent Josephus Angan, who is focusing on discipline and professionalism in the police force.

The pledge was made as the newly installed Angan made a courtesy call at City Hall and later joined the mayor in her inspection of some areas in the city.

Angan identified areas of concern where improvements are to immediately take place like discipline and professionalism at all of the 11 police stations in the city.

He said responsiveness to the community’s needs, particularly in crime prevention, is foremost in every policeman’s duty.

Angan replaced Police Superintendent Perpetuo Sanson, who retired from the service last month.

Angan previously served as station chief of Sampaloc, Binondo and Tondo in Manila from 1998 to 2001, and Cebu City police chief in 2002-2003. Prior to his assignment in the city, he was the Police Community Relations (PCR) chief of the National Capital Region Command Police Office (NRCPO).

The new police chief stressed that current police monitoring and crime prevention action are to be maintained and called on the residents’ full cooperation by reporting to police or barangay officials any unusual occurrence in their neighborhood.

Angan also expressed his goal to infuse innovative ideas into the system for a more efficient and prompt response and service by the police force using the information technology.

The program is in line with the Philippine National Police’s Computer Generated Statistics, which receives all crime data from police districts and stations nationwide.

"It’s about time to apply this in Las Piñas as computers are not only for paper works but for mapping out crime prevention and solution in a swift and precise manner," Angan said.

Meanwhile, Aguilar reiterated her earlier order for the police to go after all illegal gambling in the city to protect minors and rid Las Piñas of any forms of vices.