Manila: The National Police Commission (Napolcom) in Eastern Visayas has called for stronger community participation and inter-agency cooperation in preventing crimes, particularly those involving children and students. Speaking during a Crime Prevention Week press conference here on Thursday, Napolcom Regional Director, lawyer Risty Sibay, emphasized that law enforcement agencies cannot address peace and order concerns alone, underscoring the importance of the Community and Service-Oriented Policing (CSOP) system as a framework for collaboration among government agencies, law enforcement, and communities.
According to Philippines News Agency, Sibay said community participation should be at the heart of crime prevention efforts, with residents encouraged to become active partners in identifying problems and developing solutions. He identified three key areas in strengthening crime prevention efforts. First is community participation toward crime prevention, which calls for greater involvement of citizens in maintaining peace and order. Second is collaboration among government agencies to harmonize programs and align their efforts with the approved national crime prevention plans. The third is a preventive and problem-oriented approach, in which communities are encouraged to participate in policing and help identify concrete solutions to problems affecting their areas.
Sibay pointed out that police resources are limited compared with the demands placed on the force. Of the roughly 11,000 police personnel in Eastern Visayas, more than 4,000 are assigned to schools. This underscores the need to strengthen cooperation among the police, schools, local government units, national government agencies, parents, and communities.
Following the June 22, 2026 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, police authorities have strengthened security and coordination with schools and other stakeholders, including increased police visibility and monitoring in and around school campuses. Sibay said, however, that police presence and government interventions must be complemented by active community involvement to effectively prevent similar incidents.
Sibay stressed that the objective of community-oriented policing is not merely to respond after a crime has occurred, but to work collectively with communities and partner agencies to identify risks, address problems, and prevent incidents before they happen.
