Increased police visibility assured
BARANGAY-SK ELECTIONS
LINGAYEN—Even as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is still lobbying for a postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections set on October 28, the provincial police is carrying on with its campaign to ensure peace and order during the poll period.
The Pangasinan Provincial Police Office (PPPO) will start implementing the Patrol 101 campaign strategy, increasing police visibility in the streets as opposed to the setting up of checkpoints and implementing search warrants similar to measures adopted for the May election.
PNP Region 1 Director Ricardo Marquez gave the order to the PPPO during a command conference last September 3 here.
PPPO Public Information Officer (PIO) Ryan Manongdo said that Patrol 101 is already yielding positive results in the town of Malasiqui and he called on every municipality to adopt the same strategy to bring the police closer to the community.
Patrol 101 requires police stations to visit a barangay at least once a month and hold a dialogue with the community to address their peace and order concerns.
Mannongdo said the police will also continue with “Oplan Katok,” which was initiated during the May election, to encourage illegal gun-owners to surrender their weapons and legalize their possession.
The Comelec gun ban for the October election starts on September 28, and those exempted from the ban during the May 13 elections will be given the same privilege to carry their firearms for the barangay and SK elections in October without having to renew their permits.
ROBBERY INCIDENTS
Meanwhile, data presented during the command conference indicate robbery incidents province-wide increased to 91 incidents from January 1 to August 31 this year as compared to 83 in the same period last year.
Dagupan City reported the highest number of robbery incidents at 18 while Binmaley, and Mangaldan were second with seven each.
Manongdo said despite the increase, more cases have also been resolved during the comparative period.
However, data on unresolved incidents show there were 52 in 2013 data and 47 last year.
Meanwhile, Governor Amado Espino Jr. laments the continued posting of Senior Supt. Marlou Chan as provincial police chief and warned Pangasineses to be on the “look out” for crimes as there is no coordination between the provincial government and the police office.
“Mag-ingat muna sila (Pangasinenses) dahil mukhang hindi na nakakayanan ng ating kapulisan. Hindi ko rin mautusan ‘yong PD (Police Director) dito, hindi naman susunod sa’kin ‘yan e,” Espino said.
The governor, however, assured that his office is in close coordination with the town mayors to address crimes such as robbery, especially as the Christmas season nears.–Johanne R. Macob
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
