President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday called on the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Layag-Diwa Class of 2024 to leverage on available digital and information technology (IT) to combat crime, serve the people, and carry out innovation related to their service.
“I challenge you to leverage that technology that you are familiar with as aids in protecting and serving our people, especially in battling cybercrime,” President Marcos said during the 45th Philippine National Police Academy Commencement Exercises in Camp Gen. Mariano Castañeda in Silang, Cavite.
“I ask you to embrace smart policing, fire prevention, and penology. There is still no substitute for pounding the streets. When it comes to assuring the people, analog will always beat digital,” he said.
The fight against crime, he said, is now a potent mix of gadgets and war rooms, and old-fashioned work by gritty police officers.
And to those who will join the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the President said he expects them to maximize IT to improve their service deliveries while minimizing cost.
BFP officers should not be content with the current fire response time, but instead strive to make it faster, he said, stressing those who will serve in BJMP should not crow about jail improvements. Instead, they should come up with ways to lessen prison congestion, he added.
As he congratulated members of the 2024 “Layag-Diwa” Class, he urged them to let PNPA’s core values of Justice, Integrity, Service, “be the wind that propels you forward.”
The chief executive also encouraged the graduates to put the nation above themselves, noting such values and principles define true public servants.
“Taumbayan bago ang sarili. ‘Yan din ang mithiin ng Bagong Pilipinas. Isang lipunang patas. Isang bayang bawat mamamayan ay ligtas,” he said.
“Dalhin n’yo ang inyong mga sarili kasama na rin ang bayan sa isang masaganang bukas na hinahangad nating lahat,” he added.
Of the 223 graduating PNPA cadets, 199 will serve the Philippine National Police (PNP), 12 will be enlisted at the BJMP and another 12 will join the BFP. | PND