Abalos wants more cops deployed in drug-affected communities
By Chito Chavez
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. stressed the need to deploy additional police officers in drug-affected barangays in the country.
He issued the call following the DILG’s report of the success of the community policing strategy in Muntinlupa City, citing the move for "the cops to fully understand the situation on the ground and help address the problems of residents, as part of the implementation of Buhay Ingatan, Droga'y Ayawan (BIDA) program."
Abalos lauded the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headed by Pol. Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. for deploying 10 police officers to live among the informal settler families in drug-affected Barangay Putatan in Muntinlupa City.
During the immersion of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) team, the DILG revealed that the concerned police officers helped address some of the common concerns of the residents.
"They (cops) found out that most of them lack birth certificates and could hardly read and write," the DILG disclosed.
The DILG pointed out that the cops endeared themselves to the residents as they helped address their problems, "thus gaining their trust and respect."
Abalos also commended the Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay (RPSB) system of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as one of the effective approaches of the BIDA program in addressing the perennial drug problem in the country.
"In the whole-of-nation, whole-of-government, whole-of community approach of BIDA, pinuputol natin pareho ang bunga at ang ugat mismo sa problema ng iligal na droga (we are cutting off the fruit and root of the illegal drug problem)," he said.
Abalos said another BIDA intervention is the provision of temporary employment to former persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) under the cash-for-work program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In a recent dialogue, the DILG met with stakeholders to find common strategies for collaboration on various developmental concerns, which include unemployment, education, integration to the community, drug-related crimes and family and community relations.