PNP: denial to acceptance July 17, 2013 It is an evolution which the Philippine National Police (PNP) is going through. And it is an inevitable process should it wish to realize a genuine transformation. Transformation journey could only kick off when the PNP is ready to recognize and accept the dysfunctions within it. Otherwise, no efforts would result towards the realization of a better police force. In recent years, the whole country stood almost in disbelief when the PNP pointed out its inefficiency, ineffectiveness and incapacity to deliver the services that the public rightfully deserve. Truly, it takes one with balls to admit that some things are not going well. And definitely, it takes a pound of courage for an organization to humble itself before its stakeholders. The PNP has done it. I could name a few of the PNP Chiefs who articulated the dysfunctions in the organization. Police Director General Raul M. Bacalzo, Jr., for example, was not hesitant in saying that eight of the 10 police investigators did not have appropriate trainings on the job. PDG Nicanor Bartolome rallied a slogan “Serbisyong May Pagkukusa.” And the present country’s top cop, PDG Alan LM Purisima, campaigns for “Serbisyong Makatotohan.” Bacalzo’s report on the status of the PNP’s investigators was straight-forward. When you take the report at its face, the thought of mishandled crime investigations would surely raise your eyebrow. But Bacalzo dared to admit the problem before the national media. He did so while committing to a challenge of enhancing the investigative capability of the PNP under his tutelage. True enough, following said report, trainings on Criminal Investigation Course started to roll down from Luzon to Mindanao. He admitted the problem and pursued the solution to the problem. In the same vein, Bartolome and Purisima verbalized the dysfunctions in the PNP through their slogans. Clearly, Bartolome’s “Serbisyong May Pagkukusa” (service with initiative) and Purisima’s “Serbisyong Makatotohanan” (genuine public service) are but another way of telling that somehow the PNP’s services are lack of initiative or are yet below the bar of genuine public service. I am certain that the country’s top cops did not intend to make news by pointing out what is lacking in the police service. Otherwise, they would be violating the basic tenet of loyalty. But I am certain that their bold declarations are meant to steer the organization towards the realization of genuine transformation. It is so because change would only be made possible if one overcomes the state of denial and elevates itself to a state of acceptance.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 09:06:49 +0000