Ilocos: The Ilocos Police Regional Office (PRO1) is modifying its strategies to align with the new directives issued by the recently appointed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Nicolas Torre III. PRO1 is actively working to enhance its operational efficiency to meet the targets set by the new leadership.

According to Philippines News Agency, PRO1 Director Brig. Gen. Lou Evangelista remarked during a forum that police units across the region are now engaged in regular drills. These exercises aim to achieve a target response time of three to five minutes, as mandated by the PNP chief. Currently, the average response time in the region is recorded at 3.8 minutes.

To adhere to the new policy, Evangelista explained that adjustments have been made to crime maps, police visibility has been increased, and there is a focus on mastering communications and information technologies. These measures are part of efforts to modernize law enforcement, ensure immediate police presence in critical situations, and improve public safety.

Evangelista highlighted the importance of daily drills in reaching these goals. The regional police have also adopted advanced communication technologies, such as push-to-talk over cellular systems, to maintain uninterrupted communication irrespective of location.

With over 10,000 police officers in the region, Evangelista stated that strategic deployment is being used to deter criminal activities. However, he acknowledged that challenges persist in the areas of logistics, equipment, and manpower. To address these issues, reinforcements from mobile force battalions and local force multipliers are being utilized, particularly at border checkpoints and during emergencies.

Additionally, Evangelista called on Congress to support the recruitment of more police officers and to allocate additional funds for equipment acquisition, emphasizing the need for enhanced resources to achieve the objectives set forth by the new PNP leadership.