PNP chief to lead 115th police service anniversary in Region 8

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 12 (PNA) –- Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa will lead the 115th Police Service Anniversary on Tuesday at the police regional office here in Palo, Leyte.

Dela Rosa is expected to arrive early morning to lead various activities in connection with the anniversary celebration.

“The PNP chief wants to celebrate the 115th anniversary in all regional offices in the country. This is part of his assessment of the current situation in different regions,” said Chief Insp. Ma. Bella Rentuaya, spokesperson of the PNP Eastern Visayas.

After the arrival honors, Dela Rosa will entertain questions from the media in a brief press conference.

During the anniversary program, the PNP will give awards to about 20 outstanding police officers, police units, and local government units who have been active partners in the PNP’s anti-drug war and in rendering police service to the community.

“The highlight is the giving awards and recognition to the performing units and individuals who have contributed to the success of various police operations,” Rentuaya said.

Among the awardees is Chief Insp. Juvie Espenido under the special individual award category. He will be recognized for his intensified anti-drug war campaign in Albuera, Leyte. 

Around 500 policemen will witness the celebration. Some of them, including top officials, will join the PNP chief in a boodle fight lunch.

Dela Rosa will also preside a command conference to be attended by key PNP regional officials, provincial directors and city directors. Provincial and city police chiefs are expected to present their accomplishments. The day’s event will be capped with a fellowship night.

The anniversary celebration is anchored on the theme “Hamon ng Pagbabago, Pinag-ibayong Serbisyo.”

The PNP chief, handpicked by President by Rodrigo Duterte to lead the anti-drug war, is expected to order cops in the region to ramp up their efforts to suppress the drug menace within the first six months of the new administration.

The official will assess the region’s enforcement of two major programs he introduced – Operation Tokhang and Project Double Barrel.

Tokhang is a combination of the Visayan words "tokhang" and "hangyo", which mean to approach and persuade, respectively. Under the said operation, police knocked on doors of known drug traders and dependents, asking them to stop the illicit practice.

According to Rentuaya, there are about 20,000 self-confessed drug pushers and users who yielded to authorities in Eastern Visayas since July 1.

The other program is based on a concept of double barrel gun, which fires two in just one pull of the trigger. The operation will simultaneously attack big-time drug lords and street-level trading.

The “first barrel” is directed to those at the top, while the "second barrel" is aimed at those in the bottom, which involves reforming drug users who want to get rid of drugs.

The PNP history can be traced in the beginning of American rule and the Philippine-American War where the Philippine Constabulary (PC) was organized on August 17, 1901 as a national gendarmerie force for law enforcement, directly reporting to the American government. 

The PC was later integrated into the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the late 1930s - first as a command of the Army, and later on its own after the State Police folded.

The PNP was formally created through merging of the Philippine Constabulary and the Integrated National Police through Republic Act No. 6975 or the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 passed on Dec. 13, 1990. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO