The Quezon City government and the Philippine National Police (PNP) signed on Monday, Feb. 20, a memorandum of agreement to launch the PNP's "Kapulisan, Simbahan at Pamayanan (KASIMBAYANAN)" program in the city.
The agreement was signed by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., and KASIMBAYANAN convenor Pastor Oliver Lee during the traditional Monday flag raising ceremony at the Quezon City Hall.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said that KASIMBAYANAN is a community mobilizing program to strengthen the partnership of the police and the general public.
It aims to raise awareness in different communities that the country's police force and the people they serve have vital roles in contributing peace, order, progress, and even holistic transformation of the society.
"Ang atin pong pagtitipon ngayong umaga sa harap ng ating pong watawat ay sumasagisag ng ating pagkakaisa bilang mga mamamayang Pilipino. Ito rin ang layunin ng programang KASIMBAYANAN kung saan pinagbubuklod ang iba't ibang sector tungo sa adbokasiya ng kapayapaan at kaayusan sa ating mga komunidad (Our gathering this morning in front of our flag symbolizes our unity as Filipino citizens. This is also the goal of the KASIMBAYANAN program which unites various sectors towards the advocacy of peace and order in our communities)," Belmonte said.
Lee said that the PNP chief led the implementation of the program as he believes that criminality in the society cannot be resolved by killings.
"Nais po niyang abutin ang komunidad, at paglapitin ang pulis sa komunidad sa pamamagitan ng simbahan (He wants to reach out to the community, and bring the police closer to the communities through the church),"he said.
Azurin said that the program is also a testament and manifestation of the all-out support of local government units in the plan to reduce the proliferation of illegal drugs in the communities.
Meanwhile, Belmonte also expressed full support to the PNP's program and its goals for the partnership of the community, police and the church in fighting criminality and illegal drugs.
"Sa pamamagitan nito, nawa'y mas mapangangalagaan pa natin ang kaligtasan ng bawat mamamayan. Patuloy nating susuportahan ang KASIMBAYANAN program ng ating kapulisan tungo sa isang mas ligtas at mas mapayapang Quezon City (Through this, may we be able to better protect the safety of every citizen. We will continue to support the KASIMBAYANAN program of our police force towards a safer and more peaceful Quezon City),” she said.
The mayor, PNP chief, and the pastor also led the recital of the pledge of commitment for KASIMBAYANAN program during the event.
Present during the event were Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, QCPD director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, city councilors, other city government department heads, police officials, city barangay captains, and other guests.