320 cops complete course to step up security measures in Bicol

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 16, 2023): 320 cops complete course to step up security measures in Bicol (By Connie Calipay)

GRADUATION RITES. The graduation ceremony on the Revitalized-Pulis sa Barangay (R-PSB) program at the Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol) headquarters in Legazpi City on Tuesday (Aug. 15, 2023). The R-PSB Program is rooted in the principles outlined in Executive Order No. 70, which institutionalizes the "whole of nation" approach to end the insurgency in the countryside. (Photo courtesy of PRO5)

LEGAZPI CITY – A total of 320 police officers graduated Tuesday from a comprehensive four-day training course on the Revitalized-Pulis sa Barangay (R-PSB) program in a ceremony at the Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol) headquarters here.

PRO5 spokesperson, Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, said the training is a capacity-building program that aims to bring the police service closer to the community.

"The initiative aims to strengthen police presence within communities and actively interact with barangays to boost safety and security measures. It also intends to shield communities from falling victim to the misleading and divisive ideologies perpetuated by the New People's Army (NPA)," she said in a statement on Wednesday.

The R-PSB Program, Calubaquib said, is rooted in the principles outlined in Executive Order No. 70, which institutionalizes the "whole of nation" approach to ending the insurgency in the countryside.

"The participants, armed with newfound knowledge, are set to be deployed to various barangays in the six provinces in the region. They will carry out informative campaigns, facilitate training sessions and seminars, host dialogues, and orchestrate other relevant activities beneficial to the people on the ground. They will also bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community while nurturing a harmonious relationship among all stakeholders," she said.

During the training, the police officers learned strategic measures required to effectively combat criminal activities within the region, with the primary focus on addressing the problem of insurgency.

Calubaquib said the police officers were also trained in the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) which is geared toward strengthening their capability for effective delivery of basic services.

"The RCSP serves as the cornerstone not just in ushering peace in vulnerable, threatened, and affected communities, it also serves as an approach to the identification and prioritization of development interventions that are responsive to communities in need," she added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1207948