By Alberto Vicente/ June 21, 2024

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The provincial office of the PNP in Camiuguin under Police Col. Benbo Jumalon has cut into half index crimes of Northern Mindanao’s major tourist destination, the island province of Camiuguin.

Col. Jumalon attributes the decline of index crimes from 10 to five percent to the successful implementation of Task Force Disiplina mobilized by the provincial government. The Task Force Disiplina aims to protect tourists and locals and to help enforce laws, rules, and regulations.

The Philippine Information Agency – 10 reported that on June 21, various councils and task forces convened to address these statistics and other pressing issues affecting the province.

They discussed strategies to sustain this downward trend while tackling emerging challenges, particularly the observed resurgence in illegal drug activities.

“It has been observed that there is a resurgence of illegal drug personalities in the province based on the anti-illegal drug achievement reports from the 2nd quarter of 2023 to the present. With this, the Camiguin Police Provincial Office would like to request from our barangay officials that they continue their active and full support in monitoring the recorded illegal drug personalities in their respective barangays,” said PCol Jumalon, Camiguin Provincial Police Office provincial director.

Gov. Xavier Jesus Romualdo urged the barangay officials to adhere to the requirements of the Task Force Disiplina, especially in sending their personnel to training and obtaining deputized barangay enforcers.

“Kapoy na kaayo mangasaba, balik-balik og istorya. Basta ang effect ani, kung dili mo mag-perform, ang inyong pagpadagan sa inyong opisina affected,” Romualdo said.

(It’s so tiring to reprimand, repeating the same story. If you do not perform, your running for office will surely be affected.)

Task Force Disiplina Focal Person Patrick Dael recommended the strict implementation of parking areas before issuing business permits and conducting simultaneous road clearing operations for all barangays. He also recommended equipping those assigned to the field with official violation receipts and traffic violation citation tickets.

He also warned those with citation tickets who don’t act on their penalties not to wait until their appeals are finally ignored and cases are filed, leading to a conviction.

The meeting aims to enhance coordination, align efforts, review progress, promote comprehensive governance, strengthen community safety and well-being, and ensure compliance and accountability.

The island province of Camiguin in the Bohol Sea is 10 kilometers off the coast of eastern Misamis Oriental. It has a population of  92,808 as of 2020.