NCRPO to fast-track cultural sensitivity seminars for Metro cops

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) plans to fast-track seminars on cultural sensitivity for its personnel after earlier recalling a memorandum seeking to obtain details on Muslim students in Metro Manila’s high schools, colleges, and universities.

Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, NCRPO director, said he originally planned to start the seminars days before Ramadan – the month-long fasting and prayer for Muslims — which starts in April.

Sinas said he initiated similar training for his former subordinates when he was assigned at the then Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, now the Bangsamoro region, as well as in the Zamboanga Peninsula, and in Central Visayas.

“Dito, dahil sa nangyari, finast-track na namin (Because of what happened, we have fast-tracked it) for cultural sensitivity,” he said in an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source.

The seminars will be conducted per NCRPO district in coordination with the Institute of Islamic Studies of the University of the Philippines, according to the NCRPO official.

Sinas also noted that currently, the NCRPO does not have a Muslim counselor in its advisory council. He said this kind of adviser is necessary for the Metro Manila police force.

To fill the gap, Sinas said the NCRPO has been coordinating with the National Council of Muslim Filipinos, who he said, has promised to help the Metro police obtain the number of Muslim youths in the metro.

Despite the memorandum being recalled, Sinas, reiterated that the gathering of data is not profiling but only aims to obtain statistics for the Salaam Police Center to “conduct interventions and programs in strengthening Salaam Police in partnership with the community.”

READ: Sinas recalls memo on listing of Muslim students in Metro Manila

Sinas also reprimanded officers of the Manila Police District for the leak of the memorandum. He said the NCRPO is tracing why the document, supposed to be used for internal communication, was made public.

“The intention was good but the interpretation of some, hindi natin mapigilan (we cannot stop others to have different interpretations). In order to answer their concerns, we recalled it and hopefully, that will stop the issue,” he said.

Edited by MUF