CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Central Luzon urges the public to be advocates of peace and order through crime prevention.
In a phone interview relative to the observance of National Crime Prevention Week (NCPW), NAPOLCOM Regional Director Julieta Rañeses underscored the vital role of the public in maintaining a peaceful and orderly community.
“Crime prevention is everybody’s business. We need the full support of the citizens in order to prevent crimes from happening because if we succeed in this, our communities will become peaceful. Thus, we will be free from stress and illnesses, especially during this time of pandemic,” Rañeses said.
This is the reason why aside from the law enforcers and other national government agencies, the public is considered as the most important member needed in the realization of the government’s goal of achieving lasting peace.
She also cited that crime prevention should not only be limited during the first week of September but should be a year-round convergence between the government and the people.
“Creating awareness on this is really important because when people know that their community is in chaos, it creates depression and brings forth other problems as well,” the official said.
Meanwhile, she announced that crime rates in the region decreased during the pandemic as a result of the ongoing community quarantines in different areas.
Despite the pandemic, Rañeses also urged the public to do their part in maintaining peace and order by following rules and regulations like wearing face masks and face shields, washing hands with water or alcohol, not drinking alcoholic beverages, and practicing social distancing.
NCPW is observed every first week of September by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 461. This year’s observance bears the theme “Komunidad pangalagaan nang pandemya at krimen ay maiwasan.”