By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Aklan Police Provincial Office (IPPO) bested nine other units during the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6’s anti-riot management contest.
Aklan PPO emerged as the overall champion during the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) competition held Thursday, July 20, at the PRO-6 headquarters in Camp Martin Delgado, Iloilo City.
CDM units from Antique PPO, Capiz PPO, Negros Occidental PPO, Iloilo PPO, Guimaras PPO, Bacolod City Police Office, Iloilo City Police Office, Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RFMB) 6, and PRO-6 headquarters showcased their skills in handling civil disturbances such as riots, demonstrations, threatening individuals or assemblies.
Bacolod City PO and Iloilo City PO were declared first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively.
Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor, Western Visayas police chief, said the competition aims at checking the skills of its personnel in addressing and managing the different crowd control scenarios.
“The competition is not merely a test of skills and abilities. It is an opportunity to showcase the unwavering dedication of our police force to public service, the commitment to upholding the rule of law, and the readiness to face any challenges that may arise with calmness and respect for human rights,” he said.
The competition was done in three phases: The Showdown Inspection, The Demonstration of 8 Basic Formation, and The Problem-Based Scenarios.
Special awards were given to winners in each.
For phase (Showdown Inspection, the winners are:
1st Place – Capiz PPO
2nd Place – ICPO
3rd Place – Antique PPO
For Phase 2 – Demonstration of 8 Basic Formation, the winners are:
1st Place – Aklan PPO
2nd Place – BCPO
3rd Place – Antique PPO
For Phase 3 – Problem-Based Scenarios, the winners are:
1st Place – Aklan PPO
2nd Place – BCPO
3rd Place – ICPO
Villaflor reminded participants that their “real adversaries are not their fellow officers from the competing units but the challenges we face in the field – the unpredictable crowds, the potential for violence, and the delicate balance between control and respect for human rights.”
“It lies in our ability to exercise judgment with compassion, to diffuse tensions with empathy, and to build bridges of understanding in the face of division. Our aim should always be to serve and protect, even in the most difficult circumstances,” Villaflor said.
