SULU – The Department of the Interior and Local Government has turned-over 19 police vehicles to Sulu Governor Totoh Tan as part of its efforts to help improve the capacity of the provincial police force in law enforcement operations and other emergencies.
DILG Secretary Mel Sarmiento handed the brand new jeeps on Wednesday during his visit to Sulu province. He also told Tan that Sulu will also get 19 fire trucks which are all now in the Port of Manila and ready for shipment to the province.
“Aside from these police vehicles, Sulu will also get additional 19 fire trucks,” Sarmiento said.
He also thanked Tan – who is running for re-election in the May polls – for his support to the local police, saying, the Sulu government has been very active in helping the police force in the implementation of the so-called PNP P.A.T.R.O.L. Plan 2030 which stands for Peace and Order Agenda for Transformation and Upholding of the Rule of Law.
It aims to support the Philippine National Police in the successful implementation and monitoring of their transformation roadmap.
Tan said the police vehicles would be distributed to each of all 19 towns in the province, including the new fire trucks as soon as they arrive in Sulu. He said the vehicles will also be used by the police in disaster response in times of calamities.
He also praised Sarmiento for the new vehicles, saying, it will boost police visibility in the towns and hasten its response in emergencies. “The presence of patrol cars has been proven as a deterrent factor in crime prevention and law enforcement. They symbolize the presence of law and rule of the same in our country in general, and Sulu in particular,” he said.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa mga kinauukulan sa pangunguna ng ating butihing Kalihim Sarmiento ng DILG at sa pamunuan ng Philippine National Police. Ang mga patrol cars na ito ay isang simbolo ng pangingibabaw ng batas sa ating lipunan at sa ating bansa. Kami po ay lubusang nagagalak na ang Sulu ay hindi nakaligtaan sa mga biyayang nailaan tulad ng ating nasasaksihan sa araw na ito. Truly, no one should be left behind when it comes to benefits that the government has allotted to distribute to its people.”
“Tulad ng iba pang mga lugar na umuunlad, ang paglago ng bilang ng populasyon ay may ka-akibat na pagtaas ng bilang ng mga krimen at iba pang mga problemang panlipunan. Subali’t may mga bansa rin na kahit na maunlad na ay nakayanan ding sugpuin o kaya mabawasan man lamang ang antas ng krimen. Here in Sulu, we strongly believe, with the support of law enforcing agencies like the PNP, we can defeat the dirty hands of criminals na siyang nagbibigay ng masamang imahe sa ating lalawigan,” Tan said in his speech during the acceptance ceremony.
“Naniniwala din po ako na sa pamununo ng isang lugar, hindi po sapat na batayan na ang isang gobernador o mayor ay nagtatagumpay dahil sa pagmamahal ng taong bayan. Maliban sa pagmamahal ng mga taong bayan dapat din manaig ang pagsunod sa batas. Umaasa po kami na patuloy na makakatanggap ang ating kapulisan ng mga kagamitan na malaki ang maitutulong sa pagpapairal ng batas upang ang kaayusan at katahimikan ay hahantong sa kaunlaran ng Sulu,” he added.
Tan vowed to continue supporting the police by providing them more training and seminars to help professionalize lawmen. Catholic Bishop Angelito Lampon, of the Apostolic Vicariate of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and Ustadz Yahya Titong, blessed the vehicles. (Ahl-franzie Salinas)
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