190 Bicol cops train as policemen-counsellors

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 5 (PNA) -– The regional leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol is set to submit for extensive training at least 190 selected members who will be tasked to conduct counselling to both problematic and problem policemen in the region. Chief Supt. Lawrence Guinto, Bicol police director, said after completion of the training this month, 10 of them will be detailed at the PNP headquarters in Camp Gen. Simeon Ola in this city while 30 each will be deployed in the six provinces in the region. Guinto admitted that suspension for various offenses often carries a penalty of forfeiture of salaries and benefits which affects not only the erring policemen but also their families. Prior to Guinto’s assumption as PNP Bicol director last month, records at Camp Ola revealed that an average of two for every ten policemen are subjects of complaints at the camp’s children and women desk (CWD) by either the legitimate or illegitimate family for lack of support or abandonment. As of January this year, records at the National Police Commission (Napolcom) revealed a total of 190 cases filed against policemen, mostly for lack of support and abandonment. The number of cases filed as to rank of policemen are as follows: Police Officer 1 (PO1)–51, PO2–29, PO3–33, Senior Police Officer 1 (SPO1) –26, nine each for SPO2 and SPO3, SPO4–four, eight each for Inspectors and Senior Inspectors, Chief Inspector–four, Superintendent–three, and Senior Superintendent–one. “The wife and children do not have any knowledge of or participation in whatever mistake the policeman commits, but they too suffer, and probably at worse degrees than the one at fault,” Guinto said. Being the former chief of the PNP Human Rights Affairs Office (HRAO) in Camp Crame prior to his assignment in Bicol, Guinto, also a Bicolano, said it is likened to violating the human rights of the families of suspended policemen when salaries and benefits are forfeited. The policemen-counsellors are expected to conduct regular focus group or small group discussions and orientations on policemen to veer away from risky behavior and serve his family and the community with dignity as required by the service and expected from them by the public. On policemen facing complaints at the camp’s WCD and charges at Napolcom, they are set to undergo a restoration training facilitated by the policemen-counsellors, Guinto said. (PNA) FPV/FGS/ALV/MMG/UTB