Bataan Governor cites sound community-police relations as reason for fewer crimes in his province

BALANGA CITY, Bataan –  Governor Jose Enrique Garcia III has underscored the importance of sound relations between the local police and the community, and cited it as key to the favorable peace and order conditions in his province.

Garcia said better relations with the police and the military has enabled Bataan to register a decline in crime rate and has been free from insurgency for some time now.

The governor voiced his observation in a message he gave as  guest of honor and speaker during the culmination of the 27th Police Community Relations Month held celebration at Camp Tolentino here, The event was bannered by the theme “Ugnayang Pulisya at Komunidad Tungo sa Mapayapa, Maayos, at Maunlad na Pamayanan.”

Headed by Col. Romell Velasco, the Bataan Police Provincial Office received several awards in Region 3 (Central Luzon). The BPPO provincial chief has initiated the mini-market inside the camp where Aeta natives sell fruits and vegetables.

After the program, Garcia went to the Aeta ’tiangge’ and bought a bag full of fruits and vegetables. “The provincial government of Bataan wholeheartedly thanks the police for their tireless service and sacrifice to maintain peace and order in the province,” he said.

Garcia noted that the police regularly inform the community about its programs of the police on peace and order. He said Velasco

He said Velasco informed him that one of the improvements  the police director wanted for the members of the police force is to ensure their health so they would be ready to serve, hence the holding of the regular Zumba program.

Garcia also suggested that the police maintain their vegetable gardens under the “Kasama Ani ang Kabarangay” program. He also invited the police to join the “dalaw sa barangay,” which he will shortly launch, similar to the program he carried out when he was mayor of Balanga City and congressman of the second district.