1,156 Members of Barangay Peacekeeping Teams Took their Oath with DILG Secretary

DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno as guest speaker



The Police Regional Office 13 through its Police Community Relations Office organized the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) in Caraga Region in order to maintain peace and order in local communities at the same time to immediately respond in emergency situations.
Butuan City and Jabonga in Agusan del Norte was chosen as the pilot areas for the region.
In a simple ceremony held on November 21 at Sanchez gym in Normisist, Ampayon this city, a mass oath taking of 1,156 BPAT’s from Butuan and Agusan del Norte was held with DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno as the guest speaker.

Mayor Democrito D. Plaza in his message was thankful that Butuan was chosen to pilot the project and assured the city government will support for its sustainability.

The BPAT purposely was created as the primary operators to conduct Community-Oriented Policing and Public Safety System which will be composed of PNP supervisor, Barangay Chairman, and Barangay Tanods.

Police Senior Supt. Nestor Fajura, Plans and Operations Chief of PRO 13 said, the primary mission of BPATs includes the conduct of peacekeeping activities, organize and mobilize various sectors of the community in support of the maintenance of peace and order and safety.

BPAT members were also trained to conduct crisis management, disaster mitigation, search, rescue, and relief operations within the community, played important roles to strengthen and support the Barangay Justice System (Lupong Tagapamayapa) and authorized to conduct crime prevention and deterrence measures to protect the vulnerable sectors of the community.

“With the Barangay Peacekeeping Operations (BPO) and the BPAT, security and safety services traditionally dispensed by the PNP will be enhanced by the grassroots approach. The BPAT, the prime movers of the BPO will render services tailor-made for the community which they belong and serve”, said DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

The Secretary also denied any political motivation behind the move to Launch BPAT.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Director Lino Calingasan explained that this is the new dynamic and proactive approach to community peacekeeping which the PNP leadership is pushing for.

“The formation and operationalization of the BPAT shall be guided by the principles and guidelines composed of the awareness phase, organization and training phase, and mobilization phase. Social investigation shall be conducted prior to the recruitment of prospective members of the BPAT. The results of the investigation will be the basis for the configuration of the team since no two barangays are the same in terms of peace and order and safety situation,” said Police Chief Supt. Calingasan.