HOW DO you explain the Duterte administration’s war on drugs to schoolchildren?
The Philippine National Police is going to use a puppet show, a mascot and a comic book, said Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz, director of the PNP Police Community Relations Group (PCRG).
In a speech on Monday at the PCRG’s 24th founding anniversary celebration in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Cruz said the unit was set to conduct an “anti-illegal drugs road show” in schools and barangays nationwide.
He said the road show would feature puppet shows, a visit from new PNP mascot “PO1 Bato” and the distribution of pamphlets, including a comic book titled “Itaga Mo sa Bato,” penned by Cruz himself.
The police officers assembled at the flag-raising ceremony on Monday got a sneak preview of the child-friendly measures, with a dance performance from PO1 Bato, prompting laughter even from PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, on whom the mascot was based.
Tatay Digong
A show, “Tatay Digong and Da Adiks,” featured a puppet modeled on President Duterte. The puppet had a “Bisaya” accent and blurted out memorable quotes, which tickled the police personnel.
The show also featured puppet versions of Dela Rosa, which likewise captured his accent and quips.
Mobile app
“On top of [the PCRG’s] priorities and projects targeting schoolchildren and the youth, is eliciting their interest and appreciation of programs relative to the PNP’s anti-illegal drug campaign; opening their eyes and ears to the ill effects of illegal drugs and the menace that they pose to their families and society,” Cruz said.
SIDESHOW Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police, gamely poses with Bato the Puppet during a celebration at Camp Crame, Quezon City. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
The PCRG is also set to launch a quick-response mobile application system called “Itaga mo sa Bato”; establish a “social media center” to handle texts to the “Text Bato” hotline 2286; construct an antinarcotics LED billboard; and oversee advocacy marathons and school summits.
It is even working on a local version of “Cops,” an American television show featuring police response footage.
Grassroots target
“The PNP through the PCRG will definitely reach the grassroots, especially those drug-ridden barangays,” Cruz said.
In an earlier interview with journalists, the official underscored the importance of reaching out to the youth.
“From the records I’ve seen, we have 8-year-old children being used in the illegal drug trade to sell drugs … . Aside from that, we also catch teenagers in pot sessions, who are now also users of illegal drugs,” Cruz said.
He said he hoped that through their lectures in barangays, the PCRG would be able to reach out even to the out-of-school youth.
A reality television show would be important to show the public that “what police do are legal, not rubouts,” Cruz said.
As of Aug. 1, 395 people had been killed in antinarcotics police operations nationwide since July 1, according to the PNP Public Information Office.
The PNP also tallied 5,251 arrested, and 545,589 illegal drugs users who surrendered.