NCRPO eyes sensitivity seminars on various cultures for Metro cops

MANILA, Philippines — Following its ongoing sensitivity seminars on Islam and the Muslim culture for its officers and operatives, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said it will consider expanding the coverage of the sensitivity seminars to cover other cultures in society.

NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said the Metro Manila police are now focused on orienting its personnel on the culture of the Muslim community after it scrapped a plan to gather data on Muslim youths following widespread criticism.

“For the other sectors, pag-aaralan namin (we will study) [if we should conduct similar seminars],” he said in a press briefing.

“Sa ngayon kasi ang pinakamalaking community na nandito sa atin na medyo hindi maganda ang understanding ay Muslim community kaya ‘yun muna ang inuna namin para magcope-up ang mga pulis natin sa challenges. The other sectors baka mabilis na lang ‘yan,” he also said.

(As of now, the largest community here wherein the understanding of police officers is not that sufficient is the Muslim community that’s why we prioritized them so that the cops can cope up with the challenges. The other sectors can be dealt with faster.)

Sinas explained that for now, the NCPRO will focus on training its personnel on the culture of sectors that relayed “immediate concern.” He said that if other groups will express concern about how the police treat them in operations, the NCRPO leadership will then assess if it should be adopted in the cultural sensitivity program.

“As the situation arises, we will face the problem… Kumbaga ‘yung (It is similar to the) principle na (that) until it’s not broken hindi mo pa kailangan palitan (you won’t have to replace it yet),” added SInas.

The NCRPO top official, however, did not mention specific sectors that might be included in the program, adding that there are a lot of communities existing in the capital region.

According to Sinas, the regional police are planning to hold three-day cultural sensitivity seminars at least once every month, which will be conducted in the five districts of the NCRPO.

The first training kicked off at the NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Thursday, catering to 75 police officers. The seminar was conducted by the Islamic Institute of the University of the Philippines.

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Edited by MUF