Napolcom holds orientation for Zambo Sur execs

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur --The National Police Commission (Napolcom) held a seminar Thursday to orient police chiefs and newly-elected local chief executives on deputation and service-oriented policing system.

Lawyer Pablito Abad, Napolcom-9 director, shared the concept of community service-oriented policing (CSOP) system to 21 municipal mayors and 27 chiefs of police of this province who attended the orientation seminar at the Provincial Capitol here.

Abad said local officials and the police force can help improve the country's policing system by working together to deliver basic services to the community.

Lawyer Alexis De Lima, the representative of Napolcom Satellite Office in Zamboanga City, discussed the basic powers and functions of local executives delegated to them by the commission.

De Lima said the newly-elected officials, by operation of law, are officially deputized by the commission even without the formal oath-taking.

Among the powers of the mayors, he said, include the deployment of police personnel and formulation safety plan, as well as the authority to choose the chief of police according to the eligibility standards provided by law.

Abad said Napolcom's role is to ensure that local chief executives and police chiefs "properly exercise their tasks based on the authority given them by the law."

Zamboanga del Sur first district Rep. Divina Grace Yu, the activity’s guest of honor, underscored the importance of the seminar in raising the awareness of local officials on their roles and responsibilities.

“We look forward to a real peace and order. Not a peace and order instilled by fear but knowing that we are safe as we go out to our community,” said Yu, whose husband, Victor, is the governor of the province.

The seminar is a requirement of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to orient the elections officials on the priorities of the current administration and their state of local development and preparing them for effective local governance. (PNA)