The European Union Delegation in the Philippines supports Community and Service-Oriented Policing in Puerto Princesa
The European Union assured its commitment to Community and Service-Oriented Policing (CSOP) in Puerto Princesa with the visit of EU Ambassador Franz Jessen accompanied by Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. of Romanian Embassy, Mr Mihai Sion, to Puerto Princesa City on December 4.
CSOP is a flagship project of NAPOLCOM, supported by the EU-Philippines Justice Support Programme (EPJUST II).
The implementation of CSOP came about after a series of meetings with the city government and the PNP to implement Community Policing within three pilot barangays in Puerto Princesa: San Pedro, Tiniguiban and Santa Lourdes.
A Memorandum of Agreement was entered into by the City Government of Puerto Princesa, the National Police Commission and the Puerto Princesa City Police Office in June 15, 2015. The Agreement adopts the CSPO system as a framework for coordination and collaboration in helping bring about peace and order and public safety, as well as other activities that would contribute to improved access to justice. A technical working group, composed of representatives from different government institutions (PDEA, DSWD, DEPED, DILG, etc.) and the private sector, is guiding the implementation of CSOP.
The officials met with Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron, NAPOLCOM Commissioner Constancia P. De Guzman, City PNP Deputy Director for Operations Psupt. Silverio Bacsa, San Pedro Barangay Captain Francisco, City DepEd Education Supervisor Dr. Dennis M. Lucas, and Judge Leopoldo Mario P. Legazpi, as well as the EPJUST II team, to discuss the benefits of CSOP to communities, especially when dealing with drug use and its consequences.
After the meeting, the participants proceeded to Barangay San Pedro where they met with barangay officials and community representatives to discuss the issues facing the people of the barangay and how CSOP can assist the community in resolving those issues.
Ambassador Jessen commended the collaboration between government stakeholders with the local communities in bringing about peace and order in Puerto Princesa.
EU vows support for project turning cops into community leaders
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines - The European Union (EU) on Friday renewed its commitment to support a project of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) aimed at transforming cops into community leaders that strengthen the local government's capability.
EU Ambassador Franz Jessen met with Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron, NAPOLCOM Commissioner Constancia de Guzman and other local officials in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan to discuss the progress of NAPOLCOM's Community and Service-Oriented Policing (CSOP) project, supported by the EU-Philippines Justice Support Program (EPJUST II).
"CSOP is the backbone of crime prevention and solution, and the maintenance of peace and order in the country," de Guzman said.
Under CSOP, cops work with barangay leaders and local executives in the municipality to address community problems that are not just exclusive to crime.
De Guzman said that under CSOP, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is empowered to fulfill its role as community leaders in different local government units. It could be as simple as relaying information on the garbage situation in a barangay, or reporting burst water pipes in a community, de Guzman said.
"CSOP does not remove from the police their law-enforcement functions," she said.
The EPJUST II-supported community policing project is currently being piloted in Barangays San Pedro, Tiniguiban and Santa Lourdes in Puerto Princesa City, where problems include drugs, property theft and juvenile delinquency.
"It's a pilot program. If it works well, you will be known in the other parts of the Philippines because it will be replicated," Jessen told policemen in a visit to the Puerto Princesa City Police Office.
CSOP, launched in June 15, 2015, is supported by the EU's EPJUST II, which aims to promote equitable access to justice for the poor and the disadvantaged.
EPJUST II builds on two earlier EU projects which have so far provided 1.3 million euros worth of IT equipment, computers and servers to local governments which helped in gathering data about a specific barangay. The project also coordinates with the NAPOLCOM and the PNP in ensuring effective implementation of the CSOP.
Bayron said the support from EU is a "look from the outside" and is beneficial in teaching the local government unit how to address crimes.
"If (the pilot testing) is perfected, it wouldn't be that hard to replicate this in other barangays," the mayor said.
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European Union Supports Better Access to Justice for the Muslim Community in Palawan
August 12, 2015 -- A tripartite Memorandum of Agreement to implement the Access to Justice Network (AJN) project was entered into by the Provincial Government of Palawan, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and the United Muslim Communities in Palawan for Peace and Progress (UMCPPP) recently in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
An initiative of the NCMF, with support from the European Union’s EU- Philippines Justice Support Programme II (EPJUST II) and in partnership with the United Muslim Communities in Palawan for Peace and Progress (UMCPPP), the AJN aims to give Muslim Filipinos better access to the Philippine legal system through paralegal training and the establishment of a center at the barangay level that will facilitate access to legal and justice services. It also aims to empower their communities with seminars to improve understanding of their legal duties and rights.
Atty. Joey Mendoza, Key Expert of EPJUST II, welcomes the signing of the MOA. “This addresses a longstanding gap in the delivery of a basic right. Genuine access to justice can hopefully now be a reality for more of our poor and vulnerable Filipinos.”
The Provincial Government of Palawan, led by Governor Jose C. Alvarez, will facilitate the establishment of AJN centers in the ten pilot barangays within the province and the designation of AJN staff in each of the barangays.
NCMF together with the Provincial Government will lead in convening the technical working group and providing policy guidance and oversight in the development of AJN centers.
“Studies have shown that where there are community paralegals, citizens are more aware of their legal rights and better able to enforce them," says Secretary Yasmin Busran-Lao, Chairperson of the NCMF. “It is crucial to educate and train active community members. They can serve as legal frontrunners who can immediately respond to and assist victims of human rights abuses and prevent further similar incidents.”
Provincial Legal Counsel, Atty. TJ Matta, representing Governor Jose Alvarez, expressed excitement that Palawan would be the first to implement the legal access initiative saying, “This is a great start in making legal services accessible to both our Muslim and non-Muslim communities.”
General Estino Jairi Y. Ayyobie of the UPMCPPP committed to support the activities of AJN by endorsing the project to its members and assisting in the implementation of the program in the pilot barangays.
NCMF Launches Legal Handbook
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) with the support of European Union (EU) launched its Legal Handbook for Muslim Filipino communities last August 27.
