Police creates another peace-keeping group

CEBU, Philippines - Another barangay-based peace-keeping force will soon be introduced by the Philippine National Police.

Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Director of Cebu City Police Office, said they will train barangay tanods to become members of a new unit called Barangay Peace-keeping Action Team (BPAT).

The functions of the BPAT will complement that of the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN).

Contrary to a report, Buenafe said he will not be dissolving the BIN, which has been helping the police for several years now.

Though members of both units are all barangay tanods, Buenafe said there will be no overlapping of functions.

BPAT’s function, he said, is more on community relations while the BIN is more on intelligence gathering.

There was a report from another news outlet yesterday that CCPO is abolishing the BIN reportedly because of several complaints against it, particularly its alleged abuse of power, but Buenafe pointed out that the higher headquarters is not dissolving it.

The training for BPAT members will start a month from now. It will cover a series of lectures and practical exercises regarding their duties and responsibilities.

They will be trained of unarmed patrolling, self-defense, traffic management, disaster relief and rescue operations.

The BPAT project is an initiative of the Police Community Relations in Camp Crame as a strategy to involve the community in minimizing criminality in the country.   (FREEMAN NEWS)