LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A police official has called on fellow policemen to be mindful of the impact of their actions on the lives of the people they serve.
“Remember at all times, we are servants of the public. Hindi tayo ang panginoon sa mga lansangan, sa mga kalsada, o sa mga barangay. Hindi natin kailangan ng mga abusadong pulis na nagsisigasigaan at tini-terrorize ang ating mga kababayan,” said Philippine National Police Deputy Chief for Administration Lt/Gen. Rhodel Sermonia.
Sermonia recently visited the Police Regional Office-Cordillera to make a farewell call prior to his retirement last Jan. 6.
He reiterated the importance of upholding integrity and preserving public trust to ensure a strong bond between policemen and the community they serve.
“Uphold the ethics or the highest standard of ethics, professionalism, and adherence to human rights. Huwag nating gamitin ang ating awtoridad; ang ating badge; ang ating uniporme, o ang ating baril para sa sariling kapakanan o sa pang-aabuso sa kapwa at sa ating tungkulin. Ipakita natin na tayo ang tunay na sandalan ng mamamayan at dapat maaasahan tayo sa lahat ng oras,” Sermonia said.
He said the PNP hopes to address the public’s eroding trust and confidence in the police service by rolling out a transparency and integrity program, which aims to transform policemen into instruments of good governance.
Launched in August 2023, the Transparency and Integrity Program (TIP) is a nationwide engagement of police commanders down to provincial and station units, based on the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to uphold moral ascendancy, integrity, transparency, and accountability of every police personnel.
Sermonia said the program is rooted in the three major policies of the PNP: internal cleansing program; police operational procedures; doctrine of command responsibility.
The TIP campaign caravan has enabled the PNP to address public trust issues and foster stronger collaboration with civil society, promoting a whole of nation approach for the massive and intense reiteration of all PNP guidelines, Sermonia said. – Debbie E. Gasingan
