CEBU CITY – The hashtag #LifeisBeautiful has become very evident in media releases by the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7).
The phrase is oft-repeated in speeches delivered by Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba, director of PRO-7.
A music video showing Alba and some PRO-7 personnel singing and dancing to the tune of the “Life is Beautiful” jingle was created and uploaded on Alba’s Facebook page.
So what does the slogan really mean?
“It was conceptualized by our chief PNP. Despite the hardship, on the part of the PNP or even in the situation of our ‘kababayan’...despite the problems that we are feeling on peace and order, still life is beautiful and life is precious,” Alba said.
Alba said the slogan is “aligned with the strategic direction” of PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. which calls on the police to ensure that “the rule of law must always be upheld.”
Will there be fewer killings in police operations especially in anti-drug campaigns as a way of living up to the slogan?
“It depends on your perspective but for us, we are aligned with the strategic direction of our top leadership, our chief PNP. We are always on the side of respecting the basic human rights and upholding the rule of law,” Alba said.
Alba refused to comment when asked if the slogan has something to do with the bloody war against illegal drugs by the previous Duterte administration.
“I cannot comment anymore on the previous situation. What we are doing now is we are always exercising diligence in our duties and responsibilities as peace officers. That’s why there is a word peace because we always want peace,” Alba said. “That is basically the concept why we always espouse the tagline life is beautiful,” he added.
Alba, however, warned that while the police may be guided by the life is beautiful approach, law enforcers will not hesitate to take drastic measures when the situation calls for it.
“We will not allow also that our right to live will be violated. There’s still an exception. It cannot be that your police will die first before we protect others,” Alba said.
Alba said the PRO-7 has proven that the police can do its job with no lives lost.
Alba cited recent figures showing that the PRO-7 recorded the highest number of high-value individuals arrested in the past three months.
The PRO-7 arrested 250 HVIs during the period, besting 16 other police regional offices.
“It is a clear proof that we can deliver our job even if no one is being killed in police operations. But it is not a guarantee that nothing will happen because as always expected, armed encounter cannot be avoided in some instances,” Alba said.
Alba dismissed notions that criminals have become fearless because the supposed lack of aggressiveness of the police.
“They should still fear us because we are doing our thing. In spite of no one is getting killed, we have high number of arrests based on our statistics. We will not allow them to become fearless,” Alba said.