BAGO CITY – Fight and do not be afraid.
This was the advice of Director General Ronald de la Rosa, chief of Philippine National Police (PNP), to the 821 police trainees in Negros Island Region (NIR) and Western Visayas.
De la Rosa was the guest speaker at the recognition rites of police trainees who completed the three-month Public Safety Basic Recruitment Course, held at M.Y. Torres Sports Center in this city.
Of the 821 police trainees, 522 were from Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas and 299 were from PRO-NIR. The trainees were composed of 243 females and 578 males.
During the program, the trainees showcased their training skills in knife fighting, internal security operation, checkpoint operation, and civil dispersal management in simulation exercises.
De la Rosa said the “police should know how to fight” as he does not want the raid of the police station in Maasin town, Iloilo last Sunday to happen again.
He noted that policemen on duty did not even fight the rebels who took the station’s firearms, vehicle, and other equipment.
“I do not want policemen to be coward and not know how to fight even if they can," De la Rosa said. “I do not want police officers to surrender their service firearms just because of fear.”
The PNP chief said that all trainees are considered Police Officers 1 (PO1) set to be assigned in different parts of the Philippines as their services are needed by the country.
“Think about serving your purpose first, before your own self,” De la Rosa said, adding that men in uniform are trained to serve the people and enforce the law.
He added that the PNP has a wide range of opportunities and career enhancement as well as wage increases so there is no need to get involved in illegal activities.
De la Rosa also reminded them to be righteous and to avoid involvement in illegal activities such as drugs, gambling, and corruption.
“Do not put the organization to shame because I will definitely be your enemy,” he told police recruits.
De la Rosa also told them to fully embrace the PNP core values of service, honor, and justice.
“I expect you to completely digest the complete meat of training on the science of law enforcement and public safety,” he said, adding that as police officers, they should be willing to serve and offer their lives to the country.
Also present at the rites were Vice Mayor Ramon Torres; Chief Superintendent Edmund Gonzales, acting director of PRO-NIR; Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil, acting director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office; and Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas, acting director of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.
