Decrease in crime rate in Mindanao must continue – Go
Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go assured some 3,000 local leaders in Lanao del Norte that he would help them fight criminality, corruption, and illegal drugs to continue the decreasing crime rate in the province and the whole of Mindanao.
Go issued the statement at a convention organized by Governor Imelda Dimaporo at the Mindanao Civic Center Gymnasium in Tubod, Lanao del Norte on Wednesday and which also coincided with the birthday of Congressman Bobby Dimaporo.
The Police Regional Office in Northern Mindanao issued a report that crime in the region significantly decreased during the first half of 2018 with the total crime occurrences in the area decreasing by 40.27 percent as compared to the same period last year.
Go, a candidate for senator in the 2019 elections, is also pushing to institutionalize a system that will empower local government units to engage in localized peace talks to settle conflicts in their respective areas.
Localized peace talks are patterned after a set of programs and projects implemented in Davao region. Citing their experience in Davao, Go said that efforts of the local government resulted in a lower incidence of clashes between soldiers and communist rebels, a higher number of rebels surrendering to the government, and lower crime rates in the area.
“President Duterte wanted the Davao model to be replicated in other areas of the Philippines,” Go said.
Go vowed that he would push for programs that could help local government units maintain peace and order. He also said there should be a sports and development center in every LGU where trainings and mentorships could be given to the youth. “It will help them achieve their full potentials and avoid drugs and other vices,” Go said.
He also said that he would review and possibly move to amend the Juvenile Justice Law because some drug syndicates and criminals are using the law to take advantage of minors and use them in illegal activities.
“I plan to continue establishing more Malasakit Centers all over the Philippines. It is a one-stop shop where affordable and quality healthcare services will be accessible to everyone especially those in need,” Go said adding that the government plans to establish a Malasakit Center in Lanao del Norte