World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao joined hundreds of policemen in a torch run in his hometown in General Santos City to promote the Philippine National Police Integrated Transformation Program (ITP) that will implement reform in the police force.
Pacquiao assisted Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa, PNP Deputy Chief for Administration (DCA), during the 15th leg of the PNP Transformation Torch Run held at the headquarters of Central Mindanao PNP Office in General Santos City last Friday.
The boxing champion wore a blue gray T-shirt with markings ?Pulis? during the run. PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. has been distributing similar T-shirt to policemen and policewomen to make them aware of the program.
Verzosa said Pacquiao would help the PNP raise public awareness of the transformation program of policemen and policewomen nationwide.
?We thank him (Pacquiao) not only for joining in the torch run but for seeing the need to push and promote the integrated transformation program of the PNP,? said Verzosa who is dubbed as the ?PNP Reform Manager.?
The ITP program has identified 10 priority points that include focusing on the welfare of policemen, establishment of model police stations, and a computerized database for police personnel, pushing of legislative agenda for the benefit of its personnel, as well as providing health care and other benefits.
To ensure that all police understand the program personnel nationwide, the PNP is conducting a torch run relay in every police regional office to highlight the various internal reforms being implemented or about to be implemented in the PNP since 2006.
Verzosa, as spearhead and overseer of these various reform projects being the executive director of the PNP Program Management Office, is being groomed as the next PNP chief to replace retiring PNP chief Razon.
Verzosa, 54, said he intends to strengthen the agency?s counter-intelligence efforts to monitor illegal activities of policemen as part of the reform program.
?Let us see the end of abuses committed by undesirables that will hinder our momentum for change. To those who refuse to rise to the challenge, I urge them to reform or perish,? he said.
?We cannot attain our vision as a modern police force unless we became real guardians of human rights, protectors of the weak and defenders of the innocent,? he added.
?I hope the policemen with big stomachs would disappear,? said Pacquiao while suggesting to Verzosa and the other police officers to increase the distance of the torch run.
Pacquiao and the policemen ran through the dusty and hilly road from Barangay Tambler towards the hilltop headquarters of Central Mindanao Regional Police, overlooking General Santos International Airport.
The boxer, however, excused himself from attending the turnover torch from Compostela Valley to Central Mindanao Regional Police Office because he had to fly to Manila to attend to another commitment. ? With Jaime Laude
