CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – Philippine National Police chief Police Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has urged the police to continue communicating with the public in line with the government’s desire to make communities safe, progressive, and orderly.
"I always believe that we are all ambassadors of the government because we are always seen even in distant communities," Azurin said during the Police Regional Office-Cordillera change of command ceremony between Police Brig. Gen. Ronald Oliver Lee and Police Brig. Gen. Mafelino Bazar.
"I'm not new here in the Cordillera, I know that the police here are smart and good and if there is a reprimand, it will not damage the good image of the police," said Azurin.
Azurin asked Bazar, new PRO-Cordillera director, to extend police community relations in the barangays, to know what their needs are.
"It is important that we focus on the community, especially in remote barangays, because they are of great help in how we can persuade them to cooperate with the police and let us know what their needs are."
According to Azurin, "many remote communities in the Cordillera are almost unreachable by our police, so this is what we should program, because they also need the presence of a police officer to convey their needs to the appropriate authorities."
He said the interaction of the police with citizens is an important part of the government's peace and order effort and to end the existence of the New People's Army through the Ending the Local Communist Armed Conflict.
Azurin said that internal cleansing in the ranks of the police will continue to ensure that no one can harm the organization.