RD Soria cites role of barangays in anti-crime gains

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
September 6, 2012

CAMP SEC. RUPERTO K. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte  –  The active support and participation of barangay leaders have greatly contributed in the campaign against all forms of criminality in Eastern Visayas.

“The maintenance of peace and order is not only the PNP’s concern but needs concerted effort from all stakeholders, especially at the barangay level.  We, at PRO8 expressed our gratitude for the support given to our policemen in the field”, PCSupt Elmer Ragadio Soria, PRO8 Regional Director said before barangay leaders and anti-crime groups during the “Ugnayan sa Barangay” jointly organized by Tacloban City Police Office and Tacloban City Peace and Order Council held this morning at the Balyuan Convention Center in Tacloban City.

Soria particularly cited the activation of Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams (BPATs) and the rationalization of “Pulis Nyo Po Sa Barangay” as major contributory factor in the current manageable level of criminality situation in the region.

The BPATs conducted community-based activities and information campaign in support of the PNP’s anti-criminality effort, disaster management and control program and other public safety concerns.

A total of 4,051 BPATs were organized regionwide with 31,734 members serving as main operators of barangay peacekeeping operations in their respective localities and conducted 2,962 trainings with 1,276 PNP and 26,511 BPAT participants from the start of this year to date, Soria informed.

Meanwhile, the whole region has designated 100% Police Supervisors for the 4,390 barangays under the “Pulis Nyo Po Sa Barangay” program. The police official however stressed, that in some towns, the shortage of PNP personnel has constrained police stations to cluster adjacent barangays in their jurisdiction under one designated Police Supervisor.

The Regional Director also allayed fears that with the onset of “ber” months, crime volume will increase.

“On the contrary, based on our records, there was a downtrend in the reported crime incidents last year during the so-called “ber” months”, he averred. From 899 crime incidents in January 2011, total crime volume decreased significantly to 540 incidents in September 2011, 409 for October, 428 for November and 398 for December which was the month with the lowest crime volume, he added.