Nag-ging

At the conclusion of our board meeting last Tuesday we were surprised with a cupcake each, and a framed 3-D souvenir of our two years as members (last year we each got a NAG@1 mug, which I use in the office for my afternoon tea) of the National Advisory Group (NAG) for Police Transformation and Development, a mouthful of a title for a hardy group of NAG-gers formed for the purpose of advising the chief of the Philippine National Police towards achieving the goal of a police force that is responsible and responsive to the public, a corps of civilian law enforcers who truly serve and protect the people. The task before us – and before the leadership of the PNP – is a big one, and can be daunting. The 148,000-strong police force is spread literally all over the place, in every city and town, in practically every inhabited island in our archipelago of 7,107 islands at high tide.

Through the police hierarchy – I don’t know if the term “chain of command” applies to the police as it does to the military – from the national chief to the heads of the directorates to the regional directors, then the provincial directors and the station chiefs, the principles of PNP PATROL Plan 2030 – which stands for Peace and order Agenda for Transformation and upholding of the Rule-Of-Law – have to take root and serve as the firm foundation for each cop in the performance of his/her duty. The buy-in of the members of the police force to the idea of principled service has been encouraging, as visits to various police stations across the country I have undertaken over the past three years have shown.

Much, of course, remains to be done – there is no dispute on that. Transformation is not an easy or a quick or painless process. It is, however, likewise encouraging that among the leadership of the PNP, the commitment to such transformation is real and determined, which makes it both easier and harder for us NAG-gers. Easier because we are working with men and women sincerely committed to changing the negative perceptions the people have of their police force; harder because it means a lot of work for us in the various committees we have formed to assist the PNP, from legislative initiatives to maximizing technology, from media relations to liaisons with different government agencies, and even personal and family values enhancement (there is a program called “Beyond I do’s”).

But there are no complaints. Our board meetings are substantive but lighthearted, kept to a strict two-hour schedule by our able chair Rex Drilon (going over time by even just ten minutes brings on an apology from the chair!). My distinguished colleagues from government service, the legislature, academe, civil society, business and industry have passion and commitment that are highly contagious, and discussions are animated, sometimes bordering on fierce (in a very good way, I must clarify). But with such commitment we are very hopeful that our police force will, indeed, measure up as an Island of Good Governance in the very near future.

Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:25-30