DAY 14- Police Community Relations

Our criminal justice system follows five pillars: law enforcement, prosecution, court, corrections, and the community. These function like a chain of links, and any weakness in any of these links break the chain, resulting in a system breakdown:

• Excessive delays in the proceedings

• The acquittal of the guilty

• The conviction of the innocent

As we shall see, the community is the last among the five pillars of our criminal justice system; yet it plays an essential role in the justice cycle.

KASIMBAYANAN

As an organization, the Philippine National Police is a part of the community it serves. For the police, the community represents a source of both support and complaints. Most importantly, the community is the final measure of the quality of police service and the effectiveness of the Police Department. The KASIMBAYANAN program was pioneered by the current PNP Chief, PGEN RODOLFO SANTOS AZURIN JR, as a driving force to support Police Community Relations.

KASIMBAYANAN stands for "Kapulisan, Simbahan at Pamayanan "— a revitalized program that bridges the PNP, the public, faith-based organizations, and critical stakeholders towards peaceful, safe, and protected communities. The program's implementation aims to raise commitment to boost the unity and participation of various community sectors in maintaining peace and order. The concept of community relations is not a simple matter of dialogue and agreement on some issues. Instead, it consists of a carefully structured program involving community and criminal justice system participation.

As I roamed my assigned Police Station in Legaspi City, I ran into three kids with their mothers at the office. This was the second time they visited the station, but the first time for me to approach them. They greeted me with sweet smiles as I advanced in their direction. We took seats and introduced ourselves—Nissel, the eldest; Zackary, the middle child; and Nero, the youngest. The youngsters accompanied their mother to seek burial assistance for their late father, Ador, who died in a robbery. Their father is the family's breadwinner; hence, his loss was a substantial obstacle for them.

Despite the tragedy, the kids looked at the brighter side of their circumstances. Zackary even mentioned that they strive hard in academics to get a scholarship and lessen the burdens of their mother. Moreover, Nissel expressed his ambition to be a police officer and eliminate all the robbers so that what happened to his father would never happen again.

This brings to mind that children, as community members, are also victims of crimes, whether direct or indirect. They are at the receiving end of an efficient and effective criminal justice system in the form of a peaceful and fear-free environment. I then realized that simple talk and interaction are vital to know our people, their needs, the changes they want to see, and what roles they can partake in to fulfill the societal gaps. Any societal changes have a disproportionate, often negative, impact on children. Transformation of the family structure, globalization, climate change, digitalization, mass migration, prevailing crimes, and a shrinking social welfare net in many countries strongly impact children. The impact of these changes can be particularly devastating in situations of armed conflict and other emergencies. The healthy development of children is crucial to the future well-being of any society. Because they are still developing, children are especially vulnerable – more so than adults. Hence, there is a need for refined programs and attention to eradicating poor living conditions such as poverty and providing adequate health care, nutrition, safe water, housing, and environmental pollution, especially to those children who lack the means to access such necessities.

Today's Wrap-Up:

Being in the police force allows us to touch the lives of many. It is up to us to use it for the greater good and inspire others to live righteous lives despite the hardships that would come.