RIZAL PROVINCE - Local government units here are encouraged to provide necessary support to the members of the civilian volunteer peacekeepers in their respective localities to clamp down on syndicated crime and other illegal activities. Senior Supt. Jonathan Ferdinand Miano,
Rizal Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, said the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) members, numbering around 3,396, have been helping the police in intelligence gathering in their respective barangays. Miano said the local chief executives with the concurrence of the Sangguniang Bayan, should be assisting the BPATs in their needs particularly in providing the needed resources to encourage their unwavering involvement in assisting the police in giving information that will help in the prevention and solution of crimes in their respective barangays and municipalities.
In Taytay, Supt. Manuel Pion revealed that the local government has been very supportive of the needs of the 59 BPAT members in the municipality. Supt. Nereo Torrecampo, Cainta chief of police, also reported that Mayor Ramon Ilagan and the municipal council have been assisting the BPATs in their requirements, making them very helpful to the police in terms of intelligence gathering. Under the PNP's Letter of Instruction 22/09, police units shall create Barangay Peacekeeping Operatives or BPKOs in their respective areas of responsibility through the formation of BPATs. Under the guidelines, the police station has the direct supervision and control over the BPATs whose members come from various sectors in the community and have been selected and screened by the Police Community Relations (PCR) Officer of the police station which has jurisdiction over them.
