President Marcos encouraged the country's police force to build their credibility, emphasizing that police work could be effective when the community trusts law enforcers.
Marcos urged policemen to be part of the community they are serving, saying they could have credibility only if they engage and build rapport with the people.
He told them “to be on the beat, to know the people, and to understand what’s happening.”
"Tapos may credibility na tayo sa taong bayan (Then you gained credibility). They trust you, they know you, they know what--- you like to eat--- yung paborito mo is lechon--- ganoon, basta kilala na kayo, tao na kayo, hindi kayo pulis, tao na kayo (they know that your favorite is lechon, they know you as a person, not just a police),” Marcos said as he convened in Malacañang the first Joint National Peace and Order Council (NPOC) and Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) to discuss matters relating to peace and order.
“That’s …I think is a very important lesson that despite all off the other things hanggang satellite, hanggang cyber --- siyempre ginagamit natin lahat ‘yan pero puno’t dulo pa rin e, kailangan talaga (up to satellite, to cyber—of course we are using all that but the bottom line is we need to be) be part of the community. And that’s the only time [we are] truly effective is when the community trusts our policemen,” he added.
During the meeting, the President also pointed out that despite all of the high-tech equipment for drug abuse prevention and fighting the continued drug distribution, the police must also make their presence on the ground felt.
Other topics discussed during the meeting were the Philippines’ key national security concerns including geopolitical issues, the West Philippine Sea and other territorial disputes, the communist terrorist groups (CTG) and the drug war.
According to the National Security Council (NSC), the protracted wars and global issues have serious and detrimental effects on the country particularly on the safety of overseas Filipinos, global oil prices resulting in shortages and higher prices of goods, and the Philippines’ economic growth targets.
Moreover, China’s continuous activities in the WPS jeopardize the security of the Philippine borders through the harassment and obstruction of Philippine naval operations, harassment of Filipino fisherfolk, and the use of engagements as warfare tactics to influence Filipinos.
With regard to combating communist insurgency, the government said there are only nine weakened guerilla fronts in the country with 1,576 members and 1,406 firearms.