CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is conducting “cleansing” of civilian covert volunteers to ensure that they will not be used as cover of private armed groups.
Senior Superintendent Royina Garma, director of CCPO, said she has directed respective police commanders to initiate inventory of members of the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN).
This is to make sure that only police-authorized BIN members are serving as force multipliers, she said.
“They will use the name BIN (in illicit activities). It is very negative on our part (as police) because we do not authorize them. Pipiliin ang effective. Yun lang ang ire-retain,” she said.
Some BIN members were accused of committing crimes.
Recently, a BIN member was arrested for trying to enter the Archbishop's Palace with a gun for which he could not show documents.
In March this year, 15 members of the BIN in Cebu City were tested positive of illegal drugs during a surprise drug test.
Last year, three BIN members were charged with robbery and another one was arrested for extortion.
BIN, a network of civilian volunteers formed as a force multiplier of the police, is tasked to help improve and maintain peace and order.
A member’s task is limited only to giving information to the police force.
Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, Police Regional Office in Central Visayas director, said BIN members are not issued by the government with firearms.
He said though some are allowed to carry guns once necessary requirements are met.
“There are parameters to be BIN, they are required to submit reports, may training pa yan,” he said.
Garma said a BIN member, who is endorsed by a politician, would confuse himself as part of the politician’s security group.
The Department of Interior and Local Government has mandated local chief executives to form a BIN for other social development strategies, including livelihood and healthcare.
Garma said force multipliers, including BIN members, will be tapped for the midterm polls’ security preparations.
She said police will make sure they will not become a tool for “bloodshed.”
“We are correcting that in preparation for the elections. We are already doing something to correct. There is greater possibility of violence if we cannot prevent emergence of armed groups, especially in places that na may history of intense political rivalry,” Garma said.
At present, CCPO only has 1,193 cops. Around 900 of them are deployed in different police stations, streets and other police units, while the rest are at the headquarters for administrative work.
That number would enable the PNP to have a ratio of one policeman for every 773 people, a far cry from the ideal ratio of 1:10. — KBQ (FREEMAN)