CORTES, Bohol, July 30 (PIA) -- To address the mismatch in the police to population ratio of 1:800, the Bohol Police Provincial Office adopted a force-multiplier system in advocacy groups that empower local communities to be active partners in the anti-drive campaign. 

Sworn to the task by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar in his recent Bohol visit were force multipliers composed of multi-sectoral groups who would be the community crime watchers to make localities crime-free and assist in responding to crimes. 

Asked on the details of these force multipliers, BPPO Police Community Affairs and Development (PCAD) Chief Lt. Col. Joseph Berondo explained that since the police could not be physically present for everyone every time, there is a need for individuals who could serve as witnesses which can be a critical key in crime solution.

"Daghang panahon nga makawitness og crime, pero kay lagi, kanang crimes, police matter man na sa ilang hunahuna, bahala na ang pulis ana (There are many times when one can witness a crime, and because they think crimes are police businesses, they do not care about it)," said Berondo during the Kapihan sa PIA forum where he shared about the PNP division called Police Community Relations (PCR).

“Then, crime witnesses simply stay in the sidelines as they think it is not their jobs to do so. Now, we orient them on the task and formalize a mechanism which can help them report to the police,” Berondo added. 

PCR, which is now being replaced by PCAD, is a police effort to solicit the community’s help and tilt the balance in favor of the police when it comes to the police to population ratio.

Here is where the community can help, he stressed.

With the theme “Pulisya at Pamayanan, BARANGAYanihan sa Hamon ng Pandemya at Laban sa Krimen” for the PCR Month celebration in July, Berondo named the sectors that can significantly contribute to community policing.

For one, sector Kaligkasan (Kaligtasan sa Kalikasan) represents people who work and invest in the environment: resort owners, divers, fishermen, farmers, as they could effectively extend the police presence in their areas, Berondo explained.

Other than Kaligkasan, there is the sector on the joint industrial peace which comprises of industry workers, union members, mall crew, and other allied workers.

The Camp Dagohoy official also talked about another sector: the youth or the Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo (KKDAT) which also encompasses out-of-school youth and those in the non-formal education.

He also talked about the active sector involving the foreign nationals now living in a community.

The Foreign National Keepers Network has been helping the police in several capacities, sometimes enhancing skills and donating equipment, and reporting crimes.

Then there is the institutionalized force multipliers like the Barangay Tanods, fraternities allied with crime fighting, volunteer groups, and blue guards.

The police official also mentioned the barangay-based workers who could be crucial in reporting and solving crimes.

Barangay chairmen, barangay officials, Barangay Health Workers, and Barangay Nutrition scholars can help and can be mobilized to help keep peace and order by being part of the crime watch or patching details in police investigations to home in on a suspect, Berondo said.

“We are simply putting up a system. There is already that personal compulsion in everyone to report a crime. It is just that they do not know how to do it or they hardly understand it is their job to do that,” Berondo added. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)