Training policemen to be "true leaders"

CEBU, Philippines - A high ranking official from Camp Crame seeks to see more police officials acting as “true” leaders of the Philippine National Police and the community.

 PNP Director for Operations Chief Supt. Leocardo Santiago Jr., who headed the culmination activity of the 45-day tactical commanders training (TCT) yesterday at the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) at barangay Candagit, Sibonga, challenged their graduates to serve as “professional commanders” in their respected tactical units.

He added that as trained personnel, they should serve as good examples for their men and the community.

The activity, which also served as a comprehensive leadership course, was meant to enable the PNP to hone future leaders of the PNP. “The aim of the activity is to turn soldiers to exceptional leaders,” he said. 

PRO 7 Director Marcelo Garbo Jr. said the TCT was conceptualized by Santiago himself. Garbo said that with it, they could look back at the “fundamentals on how to improve the leadership capabilities” of the police.

The new graduates were trained mostly on “troop leading procedures, counter-terrorism and agency planning.”

The activity is the second of its kind in the history of the PNP. The third batch is currently being trained at Cagayan de Oro. The first was at the Clark Airbase early this year.

 Santiago said he wants to leave a lasting legacy to his junior officers by coming up with a manual for future police leaders. “May mga marami akong nadaanan na di ko gustong maranasan ng mga junior offcers ko,” he said.

Further, he hopes that by subjecting senior officers to such training, they will be more responsible and dedicated in their work as public servants. 

“Sawa na kami sa dina-diaryo na mga pulis dahil sa kapabayaan,” he said.

The graduates included nine officers from PRO-7, another nine from PRO-8 and eight from PRO-6 or a total of 26 PCOs finishing their TCT yesterday at RPSB. After the ceremony, they were sent back to their respected units.

Though RPSB-7 was chosen as the site for the TCT, Garbo said that the place still needs a lot of improvements. When he first visited the grounds, Garbo ordered the removal of makeshift tents which served as quarters for their trainees.

It prompted Garbo to look for solutions such as his planned benefit golf tournament which was supposedly scheduled this month. However, he shelved the proposed tournament after finding that this was “illegal,” although he vowed to look for other ways to realize his plans for RPSB-7.

He revealed yesterday his plan for the construction of additional barracks inside the training facility.

Regional Engineer Jason Gutierrez told The FREEMAN that Garbo’s plan will include the construction of three new barracks to house 500 trainees. Gutierrez clarified that the three barracks are still not enough for the trainees, adding that PRO-7 should add an additional three barracks to accommodate all.

“Kuwang ra gihapon ni ang tulo, but because we still lack funds, we are prioritizing the three,” he said.

Each barrack, according to Gutierrez, costs around P487, 000 to construct. With the initial P520, 000 which Garbo got from private entities, they could start to build one soon. 

Though PRO-7 lacks funds, Garbo said he will find ways to get more so the needed facilities could be built. The director further said that he is considering asking the support of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to realize their plans.

“We are happy for the support of the Cebu Provincial Government that is why we will be tapping the support of the governor,” he said. 

Currently, RPSB has several newly constructed comfort rooms, a water tank and a makeshift firing range.

But in the new proposed camp, aside from the new barracks, there will also be a grandstand, tennis Court, mess hall and cottages. —(FREEMAN)