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The Department of the Interior and Local Government in Region III, headed by RD Florida M. Dijan has organized and presided the Consultative Conference of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Central Luzon on September 11, 2012 at Red Rickshaw, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
During the conference, issues and concerns on criminality, insurgency, illegal drugs and prosecution were presented by representatives from Police Regional Office (PRO) III, Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Department of Justice (DOJ), respectively.
One of the agreements reached during the consultation is to request COMELEC to encourage candidates for the forthcoming election to voluntarily submit themselves to drug test. Another important agreement is to strengthen the Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Council (BADAC).
The council shall also furnish a copy of the minutes of the conference to DOJ to help the region address the issue on jail decongestion. Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said that there are detailed prisoners whose imposable penalty are lesser than the time they spent in jails. Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. added that the Five Pillars of Criminal Justice system namely: Law Enforcement, Prosecution, Court, Penology and Community shall be strengthened.
On illegal drug issues, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda asked PDEA for concrete solutions in order to totally stop the proliferation of illegal drugs. According to her, one possible solution is to work hand in hand with Local Government Units and together make and implement plans that will eventually address this problem.
Awaiting the appointment of the RPOC 3 Chair, the body unanimously agreed to designate Regional Director Florida Dijan as OIC RPOC Chairwoman. The RPOC is the body that ensures a more comprehensive and effective coordination of government efforts and active participation of citizenry in the campaign against criminality and insurgency.
During the conference, RPOC Sub-Committees were also created namely: Committee on Crime Prevention and Conflict Resolution to be chaired by Gov. Ebdane, Committee on Anti-Terrorism to be headed by Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, Committee on Anti-Insurgency to be chaired by Gov. Pineda and Committee on Illegal Drugs under the headship of Mayor Pamintuan.
Gov. Ebdane, Gov. Pineda, Mayor Pamintuan, C/Supt. Edgardo Ladao of PRO3, Maj. Gen. Allan Luga of the 7ID, Philippine Army and Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang of 703rd Brigade, Philippine Army shared brief messages and pledged to intensify efforts in order to address pressing issues on criminality, insurgency and illegal drugs.
As tribute to Secretary Jesse Robredo, a video presentation was shown at the end of the conference.
