CULTURAL SENSITIVITY. Capt. Mohammad Jihadi Abdelgafur (left), NCRPO deputy chaplain officer, explains to his fellow police officers Islamic beliefs and practices at the start of the three-day cultural sensitivity training in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City on Thursday (Feb. 27, 2020). The training aims to help Metro Manila police officers further understand and appreciate beliefs, traditions and culture of Muslims. (Photo courtesy of NCRPO PIO)
MANILA — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Thursday commenced its “Cultural Sensitivity Training" that aims to help its personnel further understand and appreciate Muslim beliefs, culture, and traditions.
Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, NCRPO chief, said 75 police officers from its five districts -- Manila Police District, Quezon City Police District, Northern Police District, Southern Police District, and Eastern Police District -- attended the activity which will run until Saturday.
Sinas said he intends to hold such activity on a regular basis.
“We will do this all-year-round. This is part of our promise to the National Commission for Muslim Filipinos (NCMF). This will become a part of our programs. This is not just because of past events,” Sinas told reporters in Filipino after the seminar held at NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
On Monday, Sinas met with NCMF Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan to clear issues stemming from the memorandum on the alleged profiling of Muslim students which went viral on social media.
The meeting also served as a platform for NCRPO and NCMF to communicate, suggest, share ideas and come up with the best programs for the Muslim brothers.
“It will be done in rotation. Next week, it will be held in districts. Our targets here are the police investigators and the first responders,” he added.
According to Sinas, the cultural sensitivity seminar would be done with the help of the University of the Philippines’ Islamic Institute.
“The NCRPO commits to keep moving forward towards promoting harmony, good partnership, and fair governance within the Metro," Sinas said. (PNA)
