Silang, Cavite — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte aims to provide funding for the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) to allow the institution to enlist more uniformed personnel.
The Chief Executive made this statement as he graced the 39th commencement exercises of PNPA held Wednesday, March 21, at General Cicero C. Campos Grandstand here.
“I hope by the next batch or the next — the one coming up for this generation, I will have the money to give you to enlist more police officers,” President Duterte said in his speech.
At the same time, the President is calling for more Moros, as well as other tribes such as Ilocano and Visayans, to join the PNPA or the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
“That not all the Moro of Mindanao are our enemies. So maybe next time there should be a percentage of the Moro people joining PMA or the PNPA. We need them. As a matter of fact, kailangan talaga natin sila,” Duterte noted.
“Many of the Moro people who were soldiers were there and many died for our country,” he said, citing the battles that the troops encountered such as the five-month siege in the Islamic City of Marawi.
During his speech, President Duterte shared that his years as mayor of Davao City has helped him to develop a rapport with policemen since they are under his supervision.
“So kind of over the years I have a good grasp for the — or dimension of — ‘yung lahat na, the persona of the police,” he said.
The Chief Executive then took the opportunity to advise the newly-commissioned cadets. He warned them against the sparrow, which he said are “very active.”
“Bantay kayo kasi the sparrows are very active. Kayong may mga baril, be sure not to display it, and be sure to keep a low profile. And if you enter a place na hindi naman kayo kilala, keep a sub rosa style of movement,” he said.
Duterte also told them to carefully study the style of assassination and to always have presence of mind.
“I am not condemning you to death, I am just saying, keep a low profile, heighten your sense of awareness,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President stressed his support for the uniformed personnel and assured them that he would take care of them.
“And if there are events that would occur, intended or not intended, for as long as you are in the performance of duty, do not be afraid or add stress on your persona,” he said.
The PNPA provides preparatory education and training for future commissioned officers of the three uniformed services of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
It conducts the Bachelor of Science in Public Safety cadetship program, a four-year residential scholarship.
Cadet Fritz John Napalinga Vallador, who hails from Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, topped the Maragtas Class of 2018.
He received the Presidential Kampilan Award and Chief PNP Kampilan Award. He was also given a house and lot unit in Bacolod City and a pistol.
The top 10 cadets joining the Philippine National Police (PNP) each received a 9-millimeter Jericho pistol during the ceremony, presented by PNP Chief Director General Roland dela Rosa.
Of the 106 members of the graduating class, 76 would join the PNP; 17, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP); and 13, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
PHL working on final draft for OFW protection in Kuwait
Before attending the commencement exercises, the President said he met with Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to work on the final draft of the deal with regard to the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait.
The President said he added some requirements such as the contract of government to government and that there would be mandatory provisions that would state that OFWs should be allowed to sleep at least seven hours a day, and should be fed nutritious food.
“And that I will not — we will not allow leftovers to be eaten by our countrymen,” he said.
Duterte said there should be no confiscation of passports and should be allowed to have holidays.
“If at all, it will be surrendered diyan sa table sa arrivals of any country where the Filipinos are working in numbers,” he added. ### (PND)
