Marcos urges new PNPA grads: Use technology to fight crimes, serve Filipinos

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday urged the 223 new uniformed personnel under the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) “Layag-Diwa” Class of 2024 to maximize technology in fighting crimes and serving the Filipino people.

“Most of you were born when the internet was no longer in its infancy, and you were shaped to be tech savvy, digital natives. I challenge you to leverage that technology that you are familiar with as aids in protecting and serving our people, especially in battling cybercrime. I ask you to embrace smart policing, fire prevention, and penology,” Marcos said in his speech at the 45th PNPA Commencement Exercises in Silang, Cavite.

“There is still no substitute for pounding the streets.  When it comes to assuring the people, analog will always beat digital. But there is now a need to patrol the information highway for robbers lurk there, too. The fight against crime is now a potent mix of gadgets and war rooms, and old-fashioned grunt work, by gritty police officers,” he added.

Marcos likewise urged PNPA graduates who are set to join the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to maximize information technology to improve service deliveries while minimizing the cost.

“We should not be content with current fire response time, but instead strive to make it faster. We should not crow about jail improvements, but we should push the envelope further, lessening congestion. And most of those in uniform have kept the values and principles that define who public servants truly are,” he said.

The President likewise reminded the new uniformed personnel that their service is “not a race to collect insignia nor accumulate prized assignments.”

“Let me remind you that your career should not be measured by the speed you have moved up the ranks alone, but by the quality of the service that you have given to our people… It is to do as much good as often to as many without expecting any reward in return, because service itself is our reward,” he said.

The President was joined by Vice President Sara Duterte and Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. at the 45th PNPA Commencement Exercises. — VDV, GMA Integrated News