I’M referring to the PNP Foundation, Inc. or PNPFI which remains to be an ideal ‘Big Brother’ to officers and men of the 226,000-strong Philippine National Police force now headed by General Jun Azurin.

Chaired by former Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson, the PNPFI continues to be a solid partner of the PNP in its transformation program, specifically in further improving the ‘move, shoot, communicate and investigate’ capabilities of the organization.

Lacson said that since its creation, the PNPFI along with its generous donors have donated various items worth around P193 million to around 348 police stations and offices nationwide.

It also directly gave P9.95 million to the immediate families of the fallen SAF 44 or the 44 Special Action Force commandos killed and the others wounded in the infamous Mamasapano, Maguindanao encounter in January 2015. On Monday, the PNPFI turned over P4.9 million worth of 301 items to the PNP.

Gen. Azurin said the desktop computers, printers, projectors, public address system, CCTV cameras and mountain bikes they got from the PNPFI will be of big help to the force while adding it really manifest their strong relationship with the Foundation amid their ongoing effort to build a much better connection with the community they serve.

Lacson, the general-turned-incorruptible lawmaker who really showed graciousness in defeat when he immediately conceded to President Bongbong Marcos Jr. days after the May 9 presidential race, went to Camp Crame to speak before his former personnel.

Yes, the 73-year old highly-respected retired police general and senator returned to Camp Crame, his former 2nd home as the 8th chief of the PNP to vouch for the integrity of the country’s newest top cop, Gen. Azurin whom he said is really well-suited to lead the 226,000-strong force.

The former PNP chief from November 16, 1999 to February 16, 2001 also said there are two words that would suit for Gen. Azurin, appointed by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. as the country’s 28th PNP chief and his new officials: competence and integrity.

Lacson was joined by the Board of Trustees of the PNPFI when he described Camp Crame as “our home, a place where we spent most of our adult professional life facing challenges too many that we have lost count of the number.

He also reminisced the days a young Azurin was working with him. “How time flies, and fast. 22 years ago, I used to preside and lead our regular Monday flag-raising ceremonies where we would start our week’s work in our offices, in the field, or wherever we could be deployed to serve and protect the people. I’m sure if we would still be alive to attend the next hoisting of the Philippine flag right on this spot where we stand now,” he said.

Lacson mentioned in particular Gen. Azurin and Major Gen. Arthur ‘Ato’ the newly-designated PNP The Chief Directorial Staff as among the active police officers who worked with him.

“Jun Azurin, then a Police Senior Inspector or Police Captain and assigned with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force before being reassigned to the Highway Patrol Group while I was serving as Task Force commander and concurrent Director General of the PNP, was a mild-mannered and highly professional young police officer who dutifully complied with all legal orders even as he delivered on his assigned tasks. He is now the Director General of the PNP and I am confidently sure that he will serve the police organization well and more,” the former senator said.

He also remembered Bisnar, ‘Ato Bisnar’ to him as then a Police Inspector or Police Lieutenant who is now waiting for the dawning of his 3rd-star. I still remember Bisnar as PAOCTF major.

Lacson said it was 22 years ago when then Police Director Vic Batac collaborated with some civic-minded business professionals to establish a foundation that would perpetually render logistical support to the police force.

It was called the PNP Foundation, Inc. or PNPFI whose Board of Trustees now include Ms. Teresita Ang-See of the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order, PNPFI president Rafael Dizon; retired Major Gen. Luke Managuelod, the chairman of the Public Safety Savings and Loan Association, Inc. or PSSLAI which Lacson described as a major PNPFI donor using its corporal social responsibility funds and deputy executive director Tomas Jesus Nanquil.

After being registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the PNPFI, Lacson said, initially received pledges and cash donations of at least P160 million to form part of the foundation’s seed money.

Thru the years, the accrued earnings from interests and highly-conservative investments of PNPFI’s seed money have been used to purchase supplies and materials needed by the force.

“Hence, your PNPFI is so designed to outlive all of us. It could probably only be co-terminous with the PNP itself,” he said.

Another worthy project which will be supported by the PNPFI is the PNP Open University which will be put up in collaboration with the University of the Philippines, I learned.

Lacson, the chairman/trustee of the PNPFI said the noble project has their full support.

“As an advancer, in our forthcoming annual general membership next month, we are scheduled to discuss the latest request of the PNP NHQ for the Foundation to support your project to put up an Open University that will allow PNP personnel to take up required and special training courses online, without necessarily leaving their places of assignment,” he said.

According to the ex-top cop, “this project is deemed to impact positively on the various problems confronting the service training of PNP personnel. Hence, we are being requested to donate the firewall component of the entire network system in the PNP-UP Open University joint endeavor.”

“Barring any infringement on the Foundation’s charter, majority of the Board of Trustees have initially expressed full support to formally approve such donation,” the veteran lawmaker revealed.

During his speech, Lacson said he had always cared for officers and men and women of the force in his individual capacity especially as Senator of the Republic for 18 years.

“I have always put premium on the welfare of the officers and men and women of the police organization in all my legislative work, be it in augmenting the annual budget of the Philippine National Police or in enacting laws that benefit the PNP,” he explained.

During his last term as senator alone or from 2017 to 2022, Lacson said he had amended to augment the budget of the PNP in the annual General Appropriations Act in the total amount of P8,069,970,000.

“I will no longer indulge you further with my bragging rights this morning by informing you of the different landmark legislations that I either authored, sponsored or co-authored,” he added.

“Having declared all these, I can proudly say without mental reservation and fear of contradiction, being your former Chief, I have paid my dues to the men and women of this proud organization both active and retired,” the member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1971 said, earning him loud cheers and claps from the police force.