PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. has commended the effort of his Directorate for Police-Community Relations (DPCR) headed by Major Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo to win back the trust and confidence of the people in the countryside in the fight against communist insurgency.

“I am thankful to the efforts of our DPCR, Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo. Very commendable ‘yung mga ginagawa nila at talagang when I assumed as chief PNP, pinatutukan natin ‘yung mga areas particularly Visayas area and based on his reports, very commendable, na-hit talaga ‘yung target and ‘yung mga areas na depressed,” he said.

He particularly referred to the Revitalized-Pulis sa Barangay (R-PSB) program of the DPCR which resulted in the police ‘winning the hearts and minds’ of the people in rebel-infested areas.

Acorda also assured that with the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), they would prevent the return of NPA guerrilla fronts in the countryside.

One best way to do it is to continue the R-PSB program which enables the police force to bring ‘real government service’ to the poorest of the poor living in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantageous Areas (GIDAS).

R-PSB personnel of the police force in Visayas and Mindanao have effectively prevented the return of NPA rebels and recruiters in these areas.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. also acknowledged the R-PSB program of the Police Regional Office 11 in Southern Mindanao when the region was declared ‘insurgency-free’ last year and got a briefing from the Armed Forces leadership regarding the matter.

The program became a ‘word of mouth’ nationwide that the Regional Development Councils of Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Socsksargen and Davao regions passed resolutions to institutionalize the R-PSB thru the passage of House Bill No. 73498 or an Act Institutionalizing the Revitalized-Pulis sa Barangay Program and appropriating funds therefore.

As a result of the R-PSB program, around 17,000 indigenous people and other poor folks living in GIDAS in Southern Mindanao since 2019 are now qualified to avail of different government services, thanks to the birth certificates they have finally acquired thru the help of the R-PSB personnel in the region.

Okubo said their R-PSB program helped thousands of indigenous peoples (IPs) in the region who have no legal identity for so long get their birth registration papers.

The PRO11 R-PSB since 2019 has enjoyed the full support of residents as its personnel have helped construct roads, school buildings, artesian projects and water systems for tribesmen and other poor folks in the region.

The R-PSB personnel also facilitated the mass wedding of dozens of tribesmen who were previously vulnerable to NPA recruitment.

The ongoing R-PSB program has also been seen as a key factor in defeating the NPA movement in the countryside, the Journal Group learned.

Already in the process of being ‘institutionalized,’ the R-PSB program has been described by Gen. Acorda as a key factor in providing timely and real government service to Filipinos living in GIDAS in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Last Saturday, President Marcos Jr. said that the NPA has no more active guerrilla fronts in the country.

“In 2023, we neutralized 1,399 members of extremist groups and seized 1,751 firearms, significantly enhancing our internal security,” the Commander-in-Chief said in an Instagram post.

In July last year, the AFP said it was able to whittle the guerrilla fronts to only one. There were previously 89 NPA guerrilla fronts, the military said.

Acorda agreed with the President when he said that the battle with the communists was ‘coming to an end’ and said that the R-PSB is a real PNP program that aims to let the ‘poorest of the poor’ feel what genuine government service is.

A study made by a group of academic experts from Mindanao has recognized the value of the R-PSB project in Davao region in helping address threats posed by insurgents and criminals altogether, the Journal Group learned.

In order to maintain government presence and keep peace and order, police presence must remain in these areas where they are needed to perform other duties such as social services in order to gain the support and sympathy of the people.

The study mentioned the ‘Pulis Nyo Po sa Barangay’ program of former PNP chief Nicanor A. Bartolome in November 2011.

The program assigned one policeman in every barangay who will serve as a conduit between the community and the unit/office of the assigned police officer.

Okubo brought the same R-PSB program to the elite PNP Special Action Force and the Metro Manila police force knowing fully well its potential to convince the people to have trust in the government by providing them the real government service they need.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon