CAMP RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – The Police Regional Office-13 vowed to suppress the drug menace alongside the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and stakeholders in Caraga region.
PRO-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft, DILG-Caraga officials, and stakeholders manifested their commitment before Police Lt. Gen. Rhodelo O. Sermonia, Philippine National Police Deputy Chief for Administration, during the validation of the “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” (BIDA) program in this camp on Wednesday, September 13.
Sermonia led the periodic validation together with acting PNP Director for Operations Police Brig. Gen. Leo M. Francisco and lawyer Cherry Ann dela Cruz, president of the Anti-Crime Coalition for Peace and Progress International (ACCPPI) National Convenors.
“We commit to more substantial strides both in demand and supply reduction of illegal drugs,” Kraft said in his commitment message. “The fight requires a multifaceted approach, thus, we commit to strengthening partnerships and collaboration with all our stakeholders," Kraft added.
Sermonia highlighted the importance of command responsibility, especially in implementing the disciplinary mechanism for police officers who use illegal drugs, and lauded the collective efforts of the police, the local government unit, and stakeholders, who were instrumental in 85 percent of barangays in the Caraga region being declared as drug-cleared barangays.
"We want all of you to be our strong partners in advocating internal discipline and different programs in this continuous anti-illegal drug campaign of the PNP that incorporates transparency and integrity,” Sermonia said.
"Sana maging partners po namin kayo in advocating internal discipline sa ating kapulisan (We hope that you would become our partners in advocating internal discipline in the police force. Kapag ang ating kapulisan ay karespe-respeto (If our police are respected), reliable, and well-disciplined, we expect that society will be our strong partner not only in our anti-criminality campaigns but also in our quest towards becoming a well-disciplined and professionalized organization," Sermonia added.
Among the highlights of the activity were the signing of commitment by the ACCPPI convenors and members of the advocacy support groups and force multipliers in support of the BIDA program, tabletop discussions on the salient provisions of police operational procedures and the rules on the use of body-worn cameras during police operations, the presentation on statistics of PNP personnel charged criminally and administratively, the internal disciplinary mechanism of the PNP and the level of disciplinary authority of unit commanders, and the presentation of PRO-13 and PRO-10 (Northern Mindanao) BIDA accomplishments.