Banaue has zero crime rate: police

By Vency D. Bulayungan

BANAUE, Ifugao – Believe it or not, but this tourist town had no crime incidents this year.

This, according to police who said this was due to strategy and community cooperation.

Senior Insp. Leo Apolonio Paddaon, chief of police, said local cops are continuously conducting barangay patrols and constantly inspecting vital installations such cell sites, banks and other establishments.

“The policemen are also implementing campaign against illegal gambling, illegal logging, illegal drugs, other special laws and municipal and barangay ordinances,” he said.

“We also conduct lectures on illegal drugs, illegal gambling, Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and RA 9262 (Violence Against Women and Children).

He attributed the zero crime rate to the active participation of the barangay protection action teams he considers their partners in crime prevention and on internal security operations.

Barangay peace and order councils have also reportedly been organized in crime prone areas as pilot areas: Barangays Viewpoint, Tam-an, Bocos and Poblacion.

“We also conduct monthly visits in all barangays here conducting lectures for barangay officials and tanods for the maintenance of peace and order within their barangay,” Paddaon said.

Aside from providing protection to residents, police also give assistance and protection to local and foreign tourists who visit the Banaue Rice Terrace and other tourist spots in the area.

Paddaon bared that the MPS intends to implement the Pulis sa Barangay program of the national government in which every barangay has one assigned police officer to monitor and give assistance to any problem that disturb peace and order.

Another program which will soon be implemented is the 'Pulis ko Teacher ko' which seeks to strengthen a close partnership of the schools and the police wherein every quarter a team from this station will conduct school visitations and conduct info drive to the pupils and students.

He said police also conduct school based activities such as distribution of notebooks, pencils, erasers in far flung elementary schools of Barangays Bangaan, Anaba and Ducligan.

Paddaon also bared since this town is a landslide- prone area, his office will coordinate with the local government unit of Banaue for a search and rescue training while proposaing purchase of search and rescue equipment.