HATAW! D'yaryo ng Bayan hatawtabloid.com
LITTLE is known about who the person is behind the successful launching of the now well-viewed “Gwapulis” segment in ABS-CBN’s noontime show; the cheerful and zanny “PO1 Bato” cop mascot; and of late the motivational public service “Itaga mo sa Bato: TEXT BATO 2286. These were all conceptualized by no less the incumbent Acting Director of the PNP Police Community Relations Group… PSSupt Gilbert DC Cruz of PNPA Class ‘86!
All these “pakulo” are geared at strengthening PNP’s image enhancement program aligned to their theme: “There is finer investment for community than Public Safety and Orderliness.”
Along with Koyang Gilbert are his two ranking officers: PSSupt Mario Rariza of PNPA Class ‘88 and PSSupt Remigio Sedanto of PNPA Class ‘89 who are equally creative and innovative thus making the PNP’s left-hand effort smooth and flawless as far as public acceptance is concerned.
For once in their career, both Koyang Mario and Koyang Remy were officemates in CIDG where they too were widely exposed to dealing with the walk-in public clientele seeking assistance in forms of complaints for investigation.
Koyang Gilbert’s exposure to the public and media as well, have given him a great deal of leverage in effectively conveying PNP’s police-community relations thrusts. He is a prolific communicator having been exposed to information dissemination campaigns when still steering the San Juan City Police Station and in the Calabarzon Regional Office.
In a nutshell, he is a well-rounded police officer who can talk matters through stock knowledge, in any given situation under the sun.
A visit to him last week in Camp Crame was a bit a throwback for my memoirs — reminiscing my days at the then PC/INP Civil Relations and Information Group (now PNP PCRG) where I was Chief of the Production Branch. I told Koyang Gilbert that there was one concept project that I initiated — a komiks magazine of sort, which didn’t take-off for reason of lack of funding by the then Directorate for PCR.
I was surprised when he showed me a mock copy of what I described as my concept… lo and behold — my mind has been hacked! I could not help but laughed out loud! Koyang Gilbert said that project will be off the press soon, and that his NGO and civic-minded friends are helping him out in some ways or another.
I see him as a very resourceful and indefatigable worker who wouldn’t wait for tomorrow to get things done. I see him as a natural law enforcer whose dictum is to capture the hearts and mind of the people and make them closer to them… that the heart of policing is gaining the confidence and trust of everyone paving a harmonious and solid relationship, thus leaving no room for commission of a crime.
SOUNDING BOARD NI KOYANG – Jesus Felix B. Vargas
