Eastern Visayas Police to reach out to poor communities

PALO, Leyte, Sept. 6  – The Philippine National Police (PNP) will conduct outreach programs in poor areas of Eastern Visayas region in a bid to establish peace and order in poverty-stricken communities.

Chief Supt. Elmer Cruz said in a press briefing Tuesday that he has scheduled a visit to economically-depressed towns such as Maslog and Jipapad in Eastern Samar, and San Jose de Buan in Samar.

“We will conduct medical and dental missions in poor areas, including the removal of earwax. There will also be a distribution of toys and story books to children,” said Cruz, the former director of the PNP Community Relations Group.

Cruz believes that establishing good ties with the community is a key to preventing crimes and fighting illegal activities.

The impoverished situation in many areas in the region gives an opportunity for the police to earn the trust of communities.

“Those who come to police stations are the less privileged because they have no connections with police officials. My instruction to our police station chiefs is to open their doors to the poor people,” Cruz told reporters.

The 2015 official report of the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed that 38.7 percent of the region’s four million population are poor or those earning below the PHP8,877 monthly poverty threshold.

Cruz said putting an end to illicit drugs, illegal gambling, and internal cleansing will not succeed for as long as there’s no support from the community.

“Since high value targets have already been neutralized in the region, we will be shifting our focus on the monitoring of activities of drug surrenderers,” he added.

Cruz assumed the regional director post on August 30, replacing Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar, who retired from 36 years of government service. (SQM/PNA)