A POLICE force should not only be seen in uniform. It should be felt when people need protection, assistance and immediate action.
That is the message emerging from the first 100 days of PBGen. Romano Cardiño as Director of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region.
From May 8 to August 16, PRO NIR recorded significant gains in its fight against crime. Total crime incidents dropped by 11.83 percent, while index crimes declined by 19.19 percent.
The eight focus crimes also fell by 19.59 percent, while the Public Safety Indicator posted a substantial 32.65 percent reduction.
Behind these numbers are intensified operations against illegal drugs, loose firearms, wanted persons, illegal gambling and cigarette smuggling.
Thousands of violators and wanted persons were arrested, while millions of pesos worth of illegal drugs and smuggled cigarettes were seized.
But Cardiño’s first 100 days are not simply about statistics.
Perhaps his most defining initiative is SAFE NIR Dial 911, launched on June 4. From its launch until August 16, the program received 364 calls that resulted in 53 arrests.
This is where policing becomes personal.
When a citizen picks up the phone and calls for help, that person is not thinking about crime statistics. He or she simply wants someone to respond.
And that is precisely what Cardiño’s leadership seeks to establish — a police service that is accessible, responsive and connected to the community.
The gains are encouraging, but Cardiño knows the work is far from over. Increases in rape and robbery remain serious challenges requiring stronger prevention and investigation.
The first 100 days, therefore, should not be viewed as a finish line.
It is a foundation.
And perhaps the simplest measure of Cardiño’s leadership is this promise: When the people call, the police must respond.
