The Police Regional Police XI directed the training staff to require the Pulis sa Barangay to undergo further schooling as a prerequisite for promotion.
The Pulis sa Barangay was launched last month, consisting of 189 patrolmen and patrolwomen, along with one commision officer. They are deployed to the different communities, particulary in rebel-influenced areas, to secure the residents.
“We will require this phase in their promotion,” he said, adding that it is one way to sustain the program before they will undergo the junior leadership course.
Aside from that, the regional police director said they are working on the institutionalization of the Pulis sa Barangay.
“I am also thanking the local government units, especially the governor (of Davao Oriental), since we are now seeing the effect of the Pulis Sa Barangay,” he added.
Meanwhile, in separate interview, Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, said the presence of the police is crucial to establish good community engagement in every barangay. The government needs to win the sympathy of the residents to take away the support of the New People’s Army.
“I would like to congratulate the brilliant effort of Police Regional Office director Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal because of his idea and initiative in deploying the Pulis sa Barangay, which will make it more difficult for the NPA group (to) enter those insurgency-free areas,” Dayanghirang said.
He said that even if the Pulis sa Barangay is rather thin right now in terms of personnel, all the local barangay officials are committed to provide support.
The Pulis sa Barangay will serve and assist barangay officials in recording crimes, maintenance of peace and order, and prevention of crimes.
Escobal directed the revitalization of the Pulis sa Barangay, which started in 2011, as support of the Executive Order 70 or the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
“It was then revitalized and trained, which is to engage the people in the barangays, protect them, help in the recovery efforts from the enemy, and ensure that the basic government services will continue to exist in the said barangays,” he said.
The police officers underwent a three-week training, which started last Jan. 16, 2020 and culminated on Feb. 5. The first batch was part of the 600 personnel that will be deployed in the PRO XI areas in the coming months.
