La Trinidad, Baguio PNP cited best in Phl

BAGUIO CITY -- The Philippine National Police cited the La Trinidad municipal police station as the top municipal police station in the country on Wednesday, with President Rodrigo Duterte gracing the awarding rite.

LTMPS chief of police Chief Insp. Benson Macli-ing, who received the award on behalf of the local police, said the validating team saw the importance of the best practices in addressing peace and order that the LTMPS has put in place.

“The ordinance on clustered neighborhood watch is now on second reading at the municipal council,” he said. The proposed ordinance makes adjacent communities help each other in crime reporting and prevention.

Macli-ing explained that crime prevention under the concept is “triangulated”, with the community, the local government, and the police aiding one another.

The capital town of La Trinidad recorded a crime volume of 230 cases in 2017, less than half of the 574 cases recorded in 2016.

The cases involved murder, homicide, robbery, theft, rape, car and motorcycle theft, physical injury, frustrated murder, and frustrated homicide.

“This is the first time La Trinidad was recognized by the national headquarters of the PNP and we are also proud that we have been recognized by the regional office in terms of accomplishment. This award is not for me and the PNP, but for the community of La Trinidad, who participates in the peace and order programs and campaigns, as well as in solving crimes,” Macli-ing said.

On July 30, the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) also received the best City Police Station in the country in Police Community Relations (PCR) activities.

BCPO City Director Senior Supt. Ramil Saculles personally received the award from PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Saculles said it was the communities' good relations with the city law enforcers that made the award possible.

PCR activities contributed to the overall peace and development initiatives at this summer capital and the country as a whole that brought the PNP closer to the people.

Baguio City was earlier cited by online data platform Numbeo as one of the safest cities in Southeast Asia.

The police officer said mutual trust between police agencies and the communities they serve are critical in maintaining public safety and effective policing.

Police officials rely on the cooperation of community members in getting information about crimes in their neighborhood. -- PNA