Manila police mascot instructs students on safety

SPO1 Sta. Mesa pays a visit to students at Pio del Pilar Elementary School in Manila on the first day of classes. RAFFY LERMA

MANILA, Philippines–Dressed in a police uniform minus the firearm, “SPO1 Sta. Mesa” went around public schools in Manila on Monday—the first day of classes—to give students basic safety tips as well as remind them that police officers were their friend and not someone they should be scared of.

SPO1 Sta. Mesa is the mascot of the Manila Police District (MPD) which launched an information safety campaign for school children and their

parents.

“We want to erase the children’s common belief that policemen are people to be afraid of,” explained Sta. Mesa police station commander Supt. Fernando Opelanio.

Together with the mascot, Opelanio and his men went around schools on Monday to distribute flyers on basic safety tips.

Grade 1 students at Gregorio Santiago Elementary School in San Miguel, the mascot’s last stop, welcomed SPO1 Sta. Mesa, giving him hugs and exchanging high-fives.

Andres Pelayo, the school principal, told the Inquirer that the campaign of the MPD could be very useful, especially in reducing cases of bullying in the school.

“We want to focus on solving that problem in this school and also remind students and parents to report any untoward incidents to officers of the law,” Pelayo said.

Police desks have also been set up by the MPD in several school to help officials maintain peace and order.

“The police really want to make sure that students are safe from any danger inside and outside the school,” Opelanio said.