Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM

Introduction

Sir Robert Peel’s1 historic tradition that “the police are the public and the public

are the police” , suggests that the community and the police depend on each other. That

the actions they take, the strategies they employ to deal with crime, imply that the

community needs to be part of their effort.

The major shift in the evolution of policing introduce the community policing in

response to the negative police image after the political era where the spoil system and

corruption flourished and reform era where the public viewed the police as professionals

who were to remain detached from the citizens they served. Thus, the community

policing is about developing partnerships that bring together the necessary resources to

solve problems and reduce crime. 2 Which suggests a shared empowerment of both

police and the community in controlling crime and reducing disorder.

The maintenance of peace and order is the duty of all citizenry of the society.

The State provides the fundamental law under Section 5 of Article II states that:

“the maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and property,

and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the

people of the blessings of democracy.” 3

1
 The policy implied the importance of peace and order to political stability and

economic prosperity. To maintain peace and order, the 1987 Constitution mandates the

establishment of a police force under Section 6, Article XVI aims that the state shall

establish and maintain one police force, which shall be national in scope and civilian in

character, to be administered and controlled by a national police commission. The

authority of local executives over the police units in their jurisdiction shall be provided by

the law.4

The Philippine National Police has been mandated under RA 6975 as amended

by RA 8551 and further amended by RA 9708 which states that the PNP shall:

“enforce the law, prevent and control crimes, maintain peace and order, and

ensure public safety and internal security with the active support of the community” 5

Since, the creation of PNP, it has been undergoing changes in policing to

provide for the needs of an ever-changing and more complex society while shaping and

maintaining a well trained, competent workforce to accomplish that mission. The

challenges of promoting peace and order and ensure public safety is the primordial

responsibility of the state to give the populace a peaceful place to live, work and do

business.

The police forces are the most visible entity of the criminal justice system. Whose

duties does not confine on handling emergencies, solve crime but also to prevent the

crime through police community relations. Such changes are fundamental to the

community policing philosophy. Police officer today become more representative of the

communities they serve, they will be better understand the problems they must address.
As officers become better educated, they will be better equipped to devise solutions to

community problems.

Police presence allows rapid recognition of law enforcement officers as readily

identifiable with badge, patches and gunbelt which conveys power and authority

bestowed upon them. The police uniform and equipment plays a major part in their

ability to gain cooperation and compliance from the public. Much from their authority

comes simply from what they are wearing. Community recognize and react to visible

symbols of authority.

The community expects much from the police in terms of law enforcement,

expect if it adversely impacts them and expects the police to help them when they have

a problem. Citizens become incensed when crime flourishes they hold the police

responsible for combating crime. Generally, the Philippine National Police is understood

as having three distinct functions, crime prevention, crime solution and law

enforcement. But, among these functions, the most basic is the crime prevention which

is an intervention in the criminal events and its impact on individuals and society.

Donsol is a coastal town with a total land area of 152.99 sq. km. and is located at

the northwestern part of the province of Sorsogon, located between geographic

coordinates 123 28’45” and 123 38’ 50” east longitude and 12” 53’ 45” and 13 02’ 00”

north latitude, which occupies the southern terminus of the Bicol Peninsula. Of the total

land area, about 25.64 sq. km. comprises the built-up urban area and 15.68 sq. km  is

devoted to agricultural purposes,  and about 13.86 sq. km. is reserved for recreational
and tourism purposes. Some 5.33 sq. km. of undifferentiated lands including waterways

of are not fully developed. 6

It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Jovellar, Albay, on the northwest,

by the municipality of Pio Duran, Albay, on the south by the Burias Pass and on the east

part by the municipality of Pilar, Sorsogon.

Donsol is composed of 51 Brgys, 42 of this area are classified as rural and 9 are

urban barangays. Donsol is in 3rd class municipality, its major economic industries are

fisheries and agriculture. The municipality of Donsol had a recorded population of

50,326. This represented 6.42% of the provincial population and ranked 6th in terms of

population among the 14 towns of Sorsogon. The map is presented on page 5.

Donsol become popular tourist destination for butanding/whale shark interaction

in the seawater of this town, the peak season of whale shark is from november to june

and the other attraction in donsol is the firefly watching somewere in brgy dancalan

bridge and brgy. ogod boarding areas, shrimp catching tour, which are available all year

round.

Thus, the municipality of Donsol as tourist spots in the country today is confronted

with the ever-increasing demand for public safety services. The Philippine National

Police recognize that the tourism industries will flourish in a peaceful and safe

environment that will eventually lead to country’s economic development. Donsol

Municipal Police Station acknowledges the crucial role of men and women of police

force of Police Station in confronting this challenge. Donsol Municipal Police Station has

a total strength of 43 police personnel. This is breakdown as: 29 policemen; 12

policewomen: and 2 non-uniformed personnel. The police to population ratio as of 2015

is 1: 1,227. This is very far from the ideal ration of 1 policeman to 500 residents.

Nevertheless, Donsol Municipal Police Station continues to do its mandated

tasks to maintain peace, order and security of the municipality. The Station remained

vigorous and steadfast in implementing its Anti-Criminality Programs. The citizenry of

Donsol must know that keeping the safer place to live, work, and do business is a

gargantuan and daunting task of local police. Thus, a strong support and cooperation of

the community and stakeholders is vital in attaining the collective goal of local police.

This instead posed as a challenge to the leadership of Donsol Municipal Police Station

from the Chief of Police down to the lowest rank of PO1 to take active part in addressing

the problem at hand and bring peace and security to the community.

Moreover, the growing awareness of limitations of the traditional policing

stimulated to experiment to a new dimension, the concept of community policing

towards peace and order that is essentially a trinity of physical, mental and spiritual

development. Positive interventions will include among others, strengthening of policing

in the police station, development of plans, programs and activities to attain a credible,

effective and capable police personnel.

In addressing the need to improve the delivery of services of police stations, the

Community Policing framework is vital in making the municipality peaceful to live, work

and do business.

This study therefore attempted to investigate the community policing towards

peace and order in the municipality of Donsol.

Map of Donsol, Sorsogon

Figure 1 Map of Donsol, Sorsogon

Statement of the Problem

The study seeks to assess the community policing towards peace and order in

the municipality of Donsol as perceived by the respondents.

Specifically, this study sought to answer the following sub-problems:

1. What is the profile of Donsol Municipal Police Station in terms of:

a. Donsol Municipal Police Station Vision, Mission, Mandate and Core

Values;

b. Organizational Strength;

c. Budgetary Support;

d. Facilities and Equipment Capability;

e. Services being delivered;

f. Population;

g. Ration of Policeman to Population;

h. Partnership with Community.

2. What is the status of performance of Donsol Municipal Police Station in terms

of:

a. Crime Solution Efficiency Rate;

b. Number and Percentage of Index Crime Solved;

c. Number and Percentage of Non-Index Crime Solved

3. What is the level of effectiveness of Donsol Municipal Police Station involved

in Community Policing in terms of the following variables:

a. Police Visibility
 b. Police Intervention

c. Community Based Program

d. Information, Education and Communication on Crime Prevention

Campaign

4. What are the problems encountered by the Donsol Municipal Police Station in

the delivery of basic services in the municipality of Donsol?

5. What are the recommendations may be proposed to enhance the community

policing to maintain peace and order as perceived by the respondents?

Scope and Delimitations of the Study

This study was delimited to the municipality of Donsol.They are the priority

clientele, the stakeholders of the PNP services. The respondents of the study include

Police Commissioned Officers (PCOs) and Police Non-Commissioned Officers

(PNCOs) of Donsol Municipal Police Stations who have direct knowledge of the

operational effectiveness of the station and representative from the Local Government

Unit which includes the barangay officials, non-government sector and the community.

They were chosen through purposive random sampling.

The study focused on the status of performance in terms of investigative

accomplishments, as well as the effectiveness of Donsol Municipal Police Station

involved in community policing relative to the peace and order situation. It also tackled

on the problems encountered by the Donsol Municipal Police Station in the delivery of

basic services and the proposed recommendations may be evolved to enhance the

community policing to maintain peace and order. The study relies on the perceptions of
the respondents in most of the aspect of the research, except for the discussion of the

profile of the implementation of community policing. The study covers Calendar year

2013-2015

Excluded in this research are other areas outside the municipality of Donsol,

though it assumed that findings of the study will be reflective of the national profile of

PNP. Programs outside the Community Policing of the PNP are likewise not concern of

this research.

Significance of the Study

The researcher assesses the community policing towards peace and order in the

municipality of Donsol. The local police serve as protector of the people to enforce the

law, prevent and control crimes, maintain peace and order, and ensure public safety

and internal security with the active support of the community. It is therefore vital that

the local police must be capable, effective, and credible to perform a high level of

effectiveness in the delivery of police services and that the community as beneficiaries

must support and participate. It hopes that community policing in the PNP will continue

its further reform within the organization. Thus, if the inquiry is made, the possible

causes of performance of the delivery of police service may be discovered so that

intervention measures may be instituted to solve the problems which strongly affect the

peace and order situation.

Further, the study finds significance in developing an assessment in the

implementation of community policing who would serve as sources of information in the

maintenance of peace and order to uphold sustainable development. Likewise it is

considered beneficial to the following stakeholders:

Donsol Municipal Police Station . This findings of this study will serve as a

baseline data on the community policing of the municipality and assessment on the

effectiveness of program to deter crimes in the municipality. Further, the findings can

serve as basis for future actions that the police office can consider in its plan to maintain

the peace and order in the municipality.

The Philippine National Police. This will provide the PNP the opportunity to

improve the community policing by becoming a more capable, effective and credible

local police. This will also provide the PNP the opportunity to improve its strong

partnership with the varied stakeholders and their action plans to criminality and

insurgency.

The PNP Top Officials. The result of this study would be brought to the attention

of the PNP top management the baseline data that would prove the effectiveness of

local police in the delivery of basic services to local community and at the same time to

provide appropriate solution to the problems.

Policy Makers. The findings of the study will have the policy makers a set of

data as basis for formulating plans and programs that will improve policing stratagem

and scheme and provide solution to the problems.

The Local Government Officials and other Agencies. The result of this study

could have a comprehensive understanding on the issues and concerns that affect the

maintenance of peace and order in the municipality of Donsol. As such, the study may
prompt them to give the PNP their utmost support that would be of great help in

supporting their respective constituents.

The Community. The study aims to fulfil its ultimate goal of attaining a safer

place to live, work and do business for the Filipino community. The data could also

serve as a moving inspiration to extend their support to the law enforcers.

The Researcher. As member of the Strategy Management Team of Donsol

Municipal Police Station who oversees the implementation of transformation program,

this research will be very vital to see the effectiveness of local police in the delivery of

services and the intervention measures that may adopt. Further, this research will be

very enriching experience for her because of the opportunity to see the first-hand root

causes on issues that affect the peace and order in the municipality of Donsol.

The Future Researcher. The researcher expects this study to be utilized in

future separate and distinct academic works, leading to the further advancement on

technology in policing in the country.

 NOTES

Miller, Linda S. 1998.The Police in the Community Strategies for the 21 st Century. Thomson Publishing Company

2
Hector S De Leon. Textbook on the Philippine Constitution, Rex printing company, Inc. 2012, p.81.

3
Hector S De Leon. Textbook on the Philippine Constitution, Rex printing company, Inc. 2012, p.756.