PRO-7 marks Police Community Relations Month

Celebration highlights the giving of awards to outstanding police offices and personnel

The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) formally opened its 22nd Police Community Relations (PCR) Month on Monday with the giving of recognition and awards to outstanding police stations and police personnel who have contributed greatly in police-community relations.

This year, the provincial police office in Siquijor was awarded the Outstanding Police Provincial Office, while the Mandaue City Police Office was awarded Outstanding City Police Office.

Bogo City Police Station was awarded the Outstanding City Police Station of the Year. Panglao Municipal Police Station in Bohol was awarded the Outstanding Municipal Police Station of the Year, while Police Station 7 of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) was recognized as the Outstanding Numbered City Police Station.

Senior Supt. Clarito C. Baja was awarded as Outstanding Senior Police Commissioned Officer; SPO2 Clemente Boro as Senior Police Non-Commissioned Officer; PO2 Dave Jay P. Olvenario as Outstanding Junior Police Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year; and Senior Insp. Karen R. Bancoleta as Outstanding Junior Police Commissioned Officer.

Bancoleta, the only female officer who received the award, has been serving the police force for nine years already.

“Yung award bonus yun sa work na ginagawa namin (The award is an added bonus for our work),” she said in an interview with Cebu Daily News.
This year’s PCR Month celebration has a theme: “Police and Community: Sharing Responsibility, taking action in unity.”

Gov. Hilario Davide III highlighted in his speech the importance of coordination between the police and the community in maintaining peace and order in the society.

“The maintenance of peace and order is a shared responsibility, and fighting crimes is everyone’s business. We all have a civic duty to act as eyes and ears of the community and the police force as well. We are vital in helping create a safer and more nurturing local environment. It is not just the policemen’s fight; it is also the citizen’s fight. It could not be achieved without the commitment of the community,” Davide said.