Cotabato Gov. Emmylou TaliΓ±o-Mendoza has urged graduating criminology interns to look beyond law enforcement and make community service a central part of their work when they join the Philippine National Police.
Speaking Thursday, Nov. 12, at the culmination ceremony for Batch Alab-Agila of Central Mindanao Colleges, TaliΓ±o-Mendoza said effective policing required more than wearing a uniform and enforcing the law. It also meant earning the trust of the communities officers were expected to protect.
βIt is not all about wearing uniforms and performing police duties,β she told the graduates. Police officers, she said, must also stand for what is right and take part in activities that promote peace and understanding among culturally diverse communities.
The ceremony was held at the Cotabato provincial capitol gymnasium in Barangay Amas, Kidapawan City, where the college is based.
Cotabato, which has 17 municipalities, is home to Muslim, Christian and Indigenous communities. TaliΓ±o-Mendoza urged the future police officers to recognize these differences and approach their responsibilities with a commitment to humanitarian work and inclusive community engagement.
Her message reflects the province’s continuing emphasis on community-based peacebuilding, an effort involving local governments, the military and the police.
Now serving her second term as governor, TaliΓ±o-Mendoza has supported peace and development initiatives undertaken by the Army’s 6th and 10th Infantry Divisions and the Police Regional Office 12, whose headquarters is in General Santos City.
She also chairs the Regional Development Council 12, which coordinates development efforts across Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces, as well as the cities of Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal and General Santos.
Army officials have previously credited her administration and local government leaders with helping remove the New People’s Army’s presence from Cotabato’s municipalities through community-based peace initiatives and backchannel negotiations.
Maj. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, and Maj. Gen. Edgar Catu of the 6th Infantry Division have separately acknowledged the governor’s role, along with the support of municipal mayors and barangay officials, in those efforts.
TaliΓ±o-Mendoza’s message was a reminder that the responsibilities of a police officer extend beyond maintaining order. In communities shaped by different cultures and histories, public trust and the ability to work with residents are also essential to keeping the peace.
About The Author
