FORMER Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman-turned Police Regional Office 7 (PRO7) director in Central Visayas, Brigadier General Roderick Augustus B. Alba has introduced his strategic framework to address and prevent criminality and spur more economic growth in the region, the Journal Group learned.

All in consonance with the M+K+K=K program of PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the new PRO7 director said he wants his men to learn and internalize the 4Cs to fully succeed in their Community and Service-Oriented Policing or CSOP.

They include the need to establish a ‘clear, coherent, critical-thinking, capability-enhancement and cleansing’ to achieve their goals and mission which is to ‘serve and protect’ the public.

Under Connectivity, he said the police must learn to embrace the functions of technology to enhance operation and communication capabilities to address crimes and critical services to the people.

Moreover, Connectivity is about building a harmonious relationship with the community.

Above all, Connectivity is getting in touch with our faith. The PNP core value “Makadiyos” is a recognition that God is the greatest reliable source of courage and everyday fulfillment of the job of police officers to serve and protect the public,” Alba said.

“As law enforcers, the PNP must strive to become beacons of hope, servants of God, and vanguards of humanitarian action while working to maintain peace and security in society. On the level of urgency and its effect, personnel needs to foster critical thinking to organize and prioritize tasks to finish all deliverables,” he explained.

The erstwhile chief of the PNP Public Information Office said his 3rd program thrust is Capability Enhancement. He explained that improving the personal and logistical capabilities of the police will complement the execution and implementation of the carefully laid-out plans.

His 4th program thrust is Cleansing. “It reminds the personnel highest sense of professionalism and ensures transparency, accountability, and integrity in all aspects of police administration,” he said.

Alba also laid down the actionable items aligned with his strategic framework.

First and foremost is his for his officers to exercise accountability and transparency to all commanders on the ground down to the police stations.

Being a former PNP-PIO and spokesperson, he ordered his ground commanders to post on all media platforms available hotline numbers with the photos of the Chiefs of Police and to do press briefings regularly to establish a connection with the public and media.

Alba also instructed his men to conduct dialogue concerning issues and security of journalists/media personalities in the region and support the media as the vanguards of transparency and accountability and all sectors of society.

The official, during his 1st talk with members of the local press, emphasized the need for the station to designate a PIO or Spokesperson for the station.

“If in case, members of the media receive threats, they should coordinate immediately with the concerned station following the protocol,” he said.

However, in the absence of the Station Commander, there should only be one Spokesperson at every station, he stressed.

The new PRO7 director described himself as an ‘inspiring and critical-thinking leader’ who will prioritize what is urgent and important for the people of Central Visayas.

“We plan ahead of time,” he said.

The official likewise said he would do the assessment and be flexible in the performance of a task of his men when asked if he would implement the ‘one-strike policy’ in the region.

At the same time, he thanked the Lapu-Lapu City Mayor for his full support to the recent major anti-drug accomplishment of the PRO7.

On Friday last week, PRO7 agents led by officers from the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office arrested 42-year old Rossel Arda during a buy-bust operation which led to the seizure of five kilograms of shabu worth P34 million.

Alba assured the press and the public that they will be given accurate, timely, and relevant information as they follow the strategic directions of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr., Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr. and Gen. Azurin in the war on drugs and criminality.

Nonetheless, he said, there will be instances of armed confrontation happening in police operations. “It has to be within the mandate and the rule of law. We have to follow the protocols of the PNP,” he said.

The official added they are also in the final stretch of security preparations for the forthcoming UNDAS 2022 as he urged the public to follow the minimum health public standard and to be vigilant at all times.

“Health and safety are primordial to the people of Central Visayas,” he said.

Alba also vowed to fully support Cebu City’s “Oplan Disiplina’ and assured local government units that PRO7 Public Assistance Desks will be visible in terminals, seaports, and other places of convergence to help deter crimes.

Last week, a 2-day conduct of Synchronized Enhanced Managing Police Operations or SEMPOs in Central Visayas led to the arrest of 86 lawbreakers and the confiscation of over P34 million worth of shabu.

Alba said the 86 were arrested following the conduct of the so-called ‘One-Time, Big-Time’ anti-criminality operations against illegal drugs, gambling, loose firearms, most wanted persons and communist terrorist groups from Friday to Sunday.

Alba said one of those arrested in the conduct of the anti-narcotics operations was Rosell Morales Arda alias ‘Janet,’ a 42-year old ‘high-value target’ in the region who yielded some five kilograms of shabu worth P34 million during a buy-bust operation at Gate 3 MEPZ in Barangay Ibo in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu province.

In their stepped-up drive versus wanted persons, the Central Visayas police director said that two of the region’s most wanted men identified as Myles Seno,46; and Roniel Brigoli,31, were arrested. Seno is facing a non-bailable drug case while Brigoli has long been wanted for a rape case. No bail was recommended for the liberty of each suspect.