President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged the police to immerse themselves in the community to foster better engagement and improve the trust of the public in law enforcers.

Marcos issued the call during the first Joint National Peace and Order Council (NPOC) and Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Malacañang on Thursday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a news release.

The President, according to the PCO, emphasized the importance for the police to make their presence felt on the ground, urging them to “be on the beat, to know the people, and to understand what’s happening.”

“Despite all of the other things hanggang satellite, hanggang cyber – siyempre ginagamit natin lahat ‘yan pero puno’t dulo pa rin eh kailangan talaga you have to be part of the community. And that’s the only time (we are) truly effective is when the community trusts our policemen,” he said, as quoted by the PCO.

Among the key national security concerns discussed in the meeting were geopolitical issues, the West Philippine Sea and other territorial disputes, communist terrorist groups, and the drug war.

In a social media post, Marcos cited the gains in the government’s campaign against drugs and insurgency.

“The integration of 67 former rebels through E-CLIP (Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program) in Surigao del Sur and strides in our anti-illegal drug campaign show our progress for peace,” he said.

“We’re enhancing local government coordination, drug monitoring, expediting cybersecurity laws, and establishing a cyber fusion center for a secure Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) where every Filipino thrives.” (PNA)