Barangay officials in Siquijor train as 'peace keepers'

By: Richard Aresgado

ENRIQUE VILLANUEVA, Siquijor, July 11 (PIA)-- Thirty-six (36) barangay officials from the 14 barangays of Enrique

Villanueva, Siquijor attended the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) seminar that the Philippine National Police conducted recently. 

Police Provincial Director Sr.Supt. Ernesto Fuentes Agas said the BPAT seminar is a comprehensive and “catch all” strategy of the PNP tapping the peace and order stakeholders in the community.

It aims to help in the data and intelligence report gathering, ensure the effective prevention, control and suppression of crimes and efficient management of disasters and emergencies.

  

Agas said BPAT shall function solely for community-based activities, information campaign in support to the anti-criminality efforts, crime prevention and on-the-spot conflict resolution at the barangay levels. 

“For some complex cases, it may be referred to the Barangay Justice System as the situation may require. If in need of police intervention, the police shall immediately act on it and for assistance to the delivery of basic government services it must be coordinated with the local government units concerned”, Agas explained.

      

Agas added that BPAT is a force multiplier in the community. He hopes the same seminar will be conducted in other areas of the province so that more and more citizens will be interested to participate.

  

Invited speaker Rowena Maputi also shared her expertise as an administrator of the Philippine Red Cross, Siquijor Sub-Chapter.  

Her lectures focused on what to do in times of unlikely events and she also shared some practical tips on how to become a peacekeeper in the community.

     

Each participant was encouraged to help maintain peace and order in their localities and not to wait for the police to respond especially those minor incidents. (PIA-Siquijor/mbcn/RAC/RA)