Davao Region police retrains errant cops

DAVAO CITY—A total of 50 police officers comprised the first batch for the Police Reformation and Enhancement of Skills and Personality Course dubbed "PRO-11 Madayaw Program" that started Tuesday at the Camp Sgt. Quintin Merecido here, the chief of the Police Regional Office-11 said.

Brig. Gen. Marcelo Morales said the trainees are composed of 19 police commissioned officers and 31 non-commissioned officers, who will undergo the 30-day course as part of the institutionalized transformation program of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to "attain a highly capable, effective and credible police service."

“It is imperative that all members of PRO-11 are transformed from within with good moral and spiritual values,” Morales said in a statement.

"Madayaw", a native tongue for "good", stands for “Make Every Day A Way of Change".

Morales said the program seeks to instill in all PNP personnel "a strong sense of commitment, dedication, and responsibility to police work geared towards a God-centered, service-oriented and family-based life."

"I will personally supervise this training,” the PRO-11 chief added.

Morales said the course participants chosen for the program "should not get offended because this will help them correct their wrongdoings that have tainted the image of the police force."

He said the reformation initiative should not be seen as a punishment, "rather a restorative approach at internal cleansing through a continuing re-training program that personnel must undergo to promote the desire to completely reform the organization and its wayward personnel."

"Make this time for you to ponder and reflect on how you could be a better person, a better police officer to be of service to the people. Remember, we have vowed to serve and protect the people, if we cannot be trusted, where will they go now?" he said.

Among the participants, he said, are police officers who are facing cases involving theft and slight physical injuries. (PNA)