Lacson to NOCPPO cops: Be legal, moral police force
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson called on the members of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) “not just to be legal, but also moral troops” during the New Year’s Call at the provincial capitol building recently which was attended by police chiefs of various local government units across the province.
Lacson said in dealing with problems involving criminality, illegal drugs and insurgency, the task of police officers involves the legal use of “force” to implement the law, but it is sometimes meet with resistance from the subjects.
The governor said this in relation to the series of high-profile controversies encountered by the Philippine National Police (PNP) last year.
“This is [the] part where your job gets more complex, especially in the face of public scrutiny,” Lacson said.
He said police work requires a great balancing act between law enforcement and the preservation of liberty. The governor also urged the police chiefs to continue building “a God-centered and service oriented PNP for the sake of the nation, and for the good cops who continue to work and sacrifice for the community.
For his part, NOCPPO director Police Colonel Romy Palgue thanked Lacson, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, the local chief executives, and stakeholders for their support.
NOCPPO had recently been ranked No. 1 in the performance evaluation rating in Western Visayas.