N. Mindanao police told: Go back to streets

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2015/09/05/n-mindanao-police-told-go-back-streets-428637
• Saturday, September 5, 2015

(PFO)

NEWLY-INSTALLED Police Director General Ricardo Marquez told the Northern Mindanao police to go back and roam around the streets.

Marquez was on the province for a visit on Friday, September 4.

He ordered the police force throughout the region to go back to basics -- roam around the streets rather than just stay in the office.

"Konti lang dapat ang makita kong natira sa opisina, gusto kong makita ang police sa kalsada, kasi yan naman talaga ang trabaho natin," Marquez said.

Marquez said that people would start to build trust to policemen when they are seen more often in the streets.

He emphasized the importance of people's role in solving crimes, especially illegal drugs which remains a problem not just in the city, but in Northern Mindanao.

"So dapat din for example if imbestigador ka, wala ka sa opisina para maghintay sa mga nagrereklamo, dapat pumupunta ka sa bahay ng mga complainants, ng mga witnesses because that is the job of the police, this is what the police are supposed to be doing," he added

A peaceful and developing community, Marquez said is a 'shared responsibility.'

"So police at mamamayan ay dapat magkapit-bisig," he said.

Meanwhile, Marquez instructed regional police director Lyndel Desquitado to run after the eight jail escapees of the Lanao del Norte provincial jail last September 3.

He said that he would also push for jail provinces' to be managed under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

"We will continue running after them, kaya nga may mga mungkahi kami noon na yung mga provincial jails ay maibigay sa BJMP para ma-professionalize yung management ng prison at maiwasan ang ganitong mga untoward incidents," Marquez said.

He added that jail management is not included in PNP's mandate but “if nakatakas na sila, it becomes our concern,” he said.

Desquitado, on the other hand, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that he already instructed the police department of Lanao Norte and all neighboring units of police regional offices in the region to conduct “sustained checkpoints and operations.”

"I ordered that our police should coordinate with the jail management and they will focus their manhunt operations in the prisoners' last known addresses," Desquitado said.

The eight inmates bolted out of the Lanao Provincial Jail at 3:15 am on Thursday, September 3.

Lanao del Norte governor Khalid Dimaporo has issued a directive on the P500,000 bounty for each inmate immediately after the incident occurred.