"To win the hearts and minds of people. "

On January 26, 2023- At about 8:30 am, P/CDT PASCUAL, P/CDT SOSITO, and P/CDT ILUSTRISIMO visited the Station-Community Affairs Division and had a brief discussion with PCPT RESEL GUEVARRA, OIC-SCADS, and PEMS Rocard Acorda, Deputy SCADS, about the duties, functions, and responsibilities of the mentioned section.

This station’s primary function is to win the hearts and minds of people. Another is that the station prioritizes instilling in people that the PNP is in partnership with the community toward a safer place to work, live and do business. PEMS Acorda mentioned that the community is the most vital part of the pillars of the country’s Criminal Justice System and that for the PNP organization to attain its Mission and Vision, the community would be of great help. He also mentioned the importance of the job given to the right person. In addition to that, he also shared and explained the different plans, programs, and activities of SCADU.

PCPT GUEVARRA also mentioned that the unit is constantly conducting programs for the communities of Pasig, like visitations and dialogues to barangays, livelihood programs with the support of other business sectors, and different religious activities in line with the “Tagataguyod” PNP Master Plan.

What I have learned here in this section is that PCR wants to change the image of PNP to the community, to build a good image for the community to trust the organization. The community and PNP must be united towards the same goal: maintaining peace and order, preventing crimes, and finding crime solutions. PNP alone cannot do this without the help of the community.

The best practices they observe during PCAD Activities include joining advocacy groups and partnerships with stakeholders, youth, and religious sectors. The Master PLAN TAGATAGUYOD[1] aims to counter the possible recruitment of CPP-NPA-NDF by visiting communities and conducting awareness against CTGs. Every Police officer must know how to build a relationship with the community and develop skills in community relations because, through PCR, we can penetrate the community and gather information compared to the other quad concept like intelligence, investigation, and operations. I also learned the importance of putting the right person in the right job, for it would be difficult to work efficiently when you are outside your field of specialty.

REFERENCE: [1]University of the Philippines College of Law. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://law.upd.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PNP-Memorandum-Circular-No-2020-053.pdf