And win hearts, minds of people

LIEUTENANT General Filmore B. Escobal, director of the Area Police Command-Eastern Mindanao, on Thursday held a dialog with officers and men of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to fully prepare them into becoming ideal personnel of their own Revitalized-Pulis sa Barangay or R-PSB program.

“I gave them a lecture on how to become good R-PSB officers by equipping them with knowledge on conflict dynamics and results-based project management,” the member of Philippine Military Academy ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991 told the Journal Group.

The official also shared some of the R-PSB ‘success stories’ in Southern Mindanao, Northern Mindanao and Caraga region under his watch.

Lt. Gen. Escobal launched the R-PSB program when he was still Police Regional Office 11 director in Southern Mindanao. He ordered then PRO11 Deputy Regional Director for Operations and later Deputy Regional Director for Administration, now Major Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo, to supervise the conduct of the highly-successful program to gain the full support of the people living in so-called Geographically Isolated and Disadvantageous Areas or GIDAS.

Maj. Gen. Okubo brought the same R-PSB program to the elite PNP Special Action Force and now 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.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. acknowledged the R-PSB program of the PRO11 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 therefor.

The bill was filed in 2020 by Davao Oriental (2nd District) Representative Joel Mayo Z. Almario.

Other officials have learned about the progress of the implementation of the R-PSB to help in the government’s efforts to end local communist armed conflict and see the best practices of the Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. when it comes to addressing the communist insurgency.

Gen. Azurin said they are aspiring for lasting peace under their “Kapayapaan Program” wherein they partner with the AFP and various clusters of Executive Order No. 70 NTF ELCAC – or the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict to continue the endeavor with more vigor and enthusiasm and ensure that all Barangay Development Programs shall reach its completion, by providing security to its implementers.

Under Lt. Gen. Escobal, around 17,000 indigenous people and other poor folks living in so-called 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 program of the PRO11.

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

The member of PNP Academy Class 1992 previously supervised the activities of the PRO11 R-PSB which was activated to provide basic government service to poor tribesmen in the region and keep them away from the recruitment activities of the New People’s Army.

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

The R-PSB personnel also facilitated the mass wedding of dozens of local tribesmen who were previously vulnerable to NPA recruitment, their areas formerly known as ‘insurgent mass base’ since the local folks have difficulty in obtaining basic documents such as birth and marriage certificates.

Maj. Gen. Okubo successfully brought the same R-PSB program to the PNP-SAF which he commanded for seven months before he was designated as NCRPO director vice Maj. Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo, now the PNP Deputy Chief for Operations.

Now, he is bringing the same program in Metro Manila where NCRPO R-PSB Teams will immerse themselves in so-called ‘crime-prone and depressed areas’ to talk with the people and understand what are their real concerns.

The PNP-SAF since August last year has won the ‘hearts and minds’ of many people while going all-out against terrorists and other Enemies of the State.

The R-PSB program has seen PRO11 and PNP-SAF troopers building roads, small bridges, artesian wells, water system, schools and even small churches while providing government service to the poorest of the poor especially those living in so-called GIDAS.

His successor, Brigadier Gen. Rudolph B. Dimas has continued the R-PSB program wherein battle-hardened SAF commandos go to far-flung barangays in the country to listen to the grievances of the people and be of help to them.

The PNP-SAF has been partnering with different government agencies and stakeholders to build small schools, farm-to-market roads, bridges and stairs, potable water system, churches and other places of worship and even homes for the needy.