E-HAYAG WU-2022-04-001

by: R.G. Gagwis, April 13, 2022

“To emphasize further, police—together with the people and stakeholders under the good leadership of the local government—must share a common goal of being the “caretakers” of the community. After all, law enforcement work is more than just a job to most who get involved in it. It is both challenging and rewarding.”

(RODEL M. CALO, 2022)

Koronadal City, South Cotabato—Director Rodel M. Calo, Regional Director of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) XII, graced the Traditional Flag Raising Ceremony of South Cotabato Police Provincial Office (SCPPO), under the leadership of PCOL Nathaniel G. Villegas, on April 4, 2022 as the Guest of Honor and Speaker (GOHS).

According to the Regional Director, he spent thirty-three (33) years of his lifetime in the police service. In those times, he took the inspirational messages from every guest and speaker personally—more than just a ceremonial rite; for he believed that behind every fragment and construct of words was a context of values, principles and ideologies, which served as guide for the police to deliver its mandates beyond mediocrity. In view of this, Dir. Calo took the podium with the weight of responsibility to empower the members of SCPPO on the principles of policing as the speaker on the 4^th of April CY 2022. Dir. Calo then started his speech by reading lines culled from the works of  Abhijit Naskar  (2020) in his book Boldly Comes Justice: Sentient not Silent:

“My brave, conscientious officers of the law, if you want people to trust you, don’t use the phrase “police are your friends”, for it only makes you sound authoritarian, egotistical and condescending – instead, remind them “police are humans too” – acknowledge your mistakes and work towards correcting them, so that you can truly become the Caretaker of People, which is the very definition of COP [emphasis added].”

(Abhijit Naskar, 2020)

Within the same context—“police as caretakers of the people,” the Director furthered his narrative towards the philosophy and strategies of community policing. Thereafter, he highlighted the Community and Service-Oriented Policing (CSOP) system which was established through NAPOLCOM Resolution No. 342, Series of 2015.

He emphasized that the local police, the local populace, and the stakeholders of the Criminal Justice System (CJS), under the good leadership of the local government must share a common goal—by becoming the collective caretakers of their respective communities; and, therefore, community policing is imperative, especially during these challenging times amid pandemic.

“To emphasize further, police—together with the people and stakeholders under the good leadership of the local government—must share a common goal of being the “caretakers” of the community. After all, law enforcement work is more than just a job to most who get involved in it. It is both challenging and rewarding.”

(RODEL M. CALO, 2022)

Dir. Calo also took the opportunity to reiterate his commitment as a public servant. As a recapitulation of the manifestation of intent during his first ever Executive Visit in SCPPO on April 5, 2021, the good NAPOLCOM Director emphasized that the capability enhancement of both the NAPOLCOM XII and the PNP in the region, particularly in the fields of human resource management, logistics management, and investigation that were anchored to the Presidential Directives given by PRRD in his SONAs and Cabinet Meetings, was in his priorities. “I take it as a personal commitment to support our PNP in the region not only as the oversight body of PRO 12 but also as partners in improving peace and order situation,” he added.

Leading by example in one of the elements of community policing—partnership, the good Director announced that the Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Council of DILG XII has issued its resolutions based on the policy proposal jointly undertaken by NAPOLCOM XII and PRO XII, namely:

• MSAC XII Resolution No. 2021-008 which urges the LGUs to support CSOP of NAPOLCOM 12 and the PNP in Region 12 in capacity-building activities for force multipliers – BPATS, Tanods, Barangay Intelligence Networks, and Other Force Multipliers.

• MSAC XII Resolution No. 2021-012 and RDC XII Resolution 2021-149 which urges the LGUs to acquire body worn cameras for the PNP of Region XII.

His intent was to assure the leaders of SCPPO of the level of commitment that DILG XII and NAPOLCOM XII share in supporting the improvement of logistics capability of the police force in the region. Toward the end of his speech, Dir. Calo gave his high expectation for the SCPPO to deliver what must be beyond its badge in the name of serving and protecting the people.