Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) will strengthen its school-based safety and crime prevention awareness campaign nationwide to help protect students from crime, online exploitation, misinformation, and radicalization. PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. announced that the initiative builds on recent awareness activities conducted by the Police Community Affairs and Development Group (PCADG) and local police units, aiming to educate students on personal safety and encourage them to become responsible members of their communities.
According to Philippines News Agency, Nartatez emphasized that the PNP believes crime prevention begins with awareness. "By engaging students at an early age, we equip them with the knowledge to recognize threats, make responsible decisions, and become active partners in keeping their schools and communities safe," he said in a statement. This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive, guided by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, to foster closer collaboration between law enforcement, educational institutions, and local communities.
The latest campaign was held at the San Juan City Science High School on July 9, coinciding with the observance of Police Community Relations Month. PCADG partnered with the San Juan City Police Station and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency - National Capital Region (NICA-NCR) to conduct discussions on fake news, anti-illegal drugs, anti-terrorism, the Safe Spaces Act, anti-bullying, active shooting survival tips, crime prevention, and the government's peace and security programs.
Nartatez further instructed police units to enhance collaboration with schools and local stakeholders to sustain these preventive education programs. He ordered the expansion of youth information campaigns covering cyber safety, anti-bullying, anti-illegal drugs, anti-online scams, and responsible social media use. He stressed that "early education is one of our strongest tools in preventing young people from becoming victims of crime, online exploitation, misinformation, or radicalization."
Nartatez highlighted that informed students are more capable of identifying risks and reporting suspicious activities before these escalate into bigger security concerns. "When students are informed, they are better prepared to identify risks, reject harmful influences, and report suspicious activities. Our goal is to build a culture of safety, responsibility, and resilience among the youth," he stated.
