BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 15 (PNA) — The Police Regional Office 13, through its public information office, hosted the first “fellowship night” with the Butuan City tri-Media practitioners on Friday evening.
The activity held at the regional director’s quarters was attended by the regional police command group, headed by Chief Supt. Vert T. Chavez, PRO 13 Acting Regional Director, the directorial staff, personal staff and support office, Agusan del Norte provincial police director Sr Supt. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, Butuan City Officer-in-Charge Supt. Romy Palgue and the Officer-in-Charge of the Regional Public Safety Battalion and the personnel of the PRO 13 PIO, headed by Supt. Martin M. Gamba.
On the media side, majority of the practitioners from the KBP, print, television and web-based were present during the event.
Gamba welcomed the police officers and personnel and media practitioners present at the said event.
In his message, Chavez cited National Police Commission guidelines for the police force to be engaged with the community.
Chavez also quoted some points from Commission on Human Rights 13 Regional Director Atty. Marilyn M. Pintor’s message, when the human rights regional director was the guest of honor and speaker during the 114th Police Service anniversary celebration early this week, that for the PNP to gain community acceptance will adhere to some important values such as the: the legacy of trust, sensitivity to community concerns and issues and community partnership.
”No issues in the community were resolved without the participation of the media. We need media even during wars…presently, we need you to inform the community about our present thrusts, programs and campaigns against all forms of criminality and illegal activities and anything which may undermine peace, order, progress and development,” Chavez said.
He pointed out that the concrete example of media-police partnership which will be beneficial to the community is the tree planting scheduled Saturday with the members of the Kapisanan Ng Mga Brodkasters Sa Pilipinas (KBP) at junction, Brgy. Bancasi this city.
Tree-planting is a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) program not of the media, much more so with the police. “But why should we engage ourselves with such endeavor? Because it will not only be beneficial to the community, but also a climate-change mitigation measure and may help address the issues of environmental protection and conservation,” Chavez said.
He also assured media practitioners that the PNP will never tolerate and be open to any reports of police misdeeds by some misfits of the service and to take swift action and to implement the proper sanction to any scalawag of the rank after giving them the chance of a due process.
Chavez reiterated that the PNP now is envisioning the long-term highly capable, effective and credible police service working in partnership with a responsible community towards the attainment of a safer place to live and work and do business through its “Peace and Order Agenda For Transformation and Upholding of the Rule Of Law” or (PNP P.A.T.R.O.L PLAN 2030).(PNA)