PH NATIONAL POLICE DEPUTY CHIEF SERMONIA CALLS ON CONSUL GENERAL FERRER, MEETS FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN BAY AREA
Consul General Neil Ferrer (center-right) and Police Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia (center-left), during the latter’s call at the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 20 October 2023. Also in the photo, from left to right: Police Cpt. Christopher Dulagan; Police Col. Fernando Cunanan Jr.; Police Col. Cecile Viloria of the PNP Police Attache Office in Los Angeles; Consul Jed Llona; Vice Consul Adrian Baccay; and Filipino Community leader Ric Macaraeg. (San Francisco PCG photo)
SAN FRANCISCO, USA – As part of its outreach to Filipino communities around the world, Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Chief for Administration Lieutenant General Rhodel Sermonia recently visited San Francisco and met with the Filipino American Community in the Bay Area.
Consul General Neil Ferrer welcomed Police Lt. Gen. Sermonia to the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 20 October 2023, where the former expressed his support to the PNP’s mission of maintaining peace and order in the Philippines. Police Colonel Cecile Viloria of the PNP Police Attaché Office in Los Angeles accompanied the PNP Deputy Chief during the call.
Consul General Ferrer and other Philippine Consulate General officials also attended the Filipino Community meeting of Police Lt. Gen. Sermonia at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in San Francisco.
In his remarks, Consul General Ferrer congratulated the PNP for being one of the top five performing and most trusted government agencies in the recent OCTA Research survey, garnering a trust rating of 80% and 76% during the first and second quarters of 2023, respectively.
“I congratulate the PNP for this manifestation of satisfaction and I hope that the PNP takes full advantage of this feedback to keep serving and protecting the people and our nation,” Consul General Ferrer said.
Consul General Ferrer also spoke on the commitment of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to modernize the PNP, and the President’s zero-tolerance policy for corruption and human rights abuses.
“As the President mentioned before the PNP’s newly promoted star rank officers: ‘Sa Bagong Pilipinas na ating itinataguyod, walang puwang para sa hanay ng ating kapulisan ang korapsyon, pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan, at iba pang katiwalian at mga iligal na gawain,’” added Consul General Ferrer.
“I ask everyone to continue supporting the PNP as they serve and protect our communities, towards a safe, peaceful and prosperous Philippines for every Filipino,” the Philippine Consul General concluded.
In his presentation, Police Lt. Gen. Sermonia outlined some of the PNP’s programs, including: the Global Police Community Relations (Global PCR) outreach program for overseas Filipinos, which was first launched in San Francisco in 2018; the “Sumbong N’yo, Aksyon Agad” multimedia platform, where the public could air their grievances directly to the PNP and other government agencies; and the Transparency and Integrity Program, which aims to clean the ranks of the 228,000-strong police force.
Police Lt. Gen. Sermonia also presented the “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” (BIDA) program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which aims to counter the proliferation of illegal drugs through demand reduction and community empowerment.
The PNP Deputy Chief also reported that out of the 42,000 barangays in the Philippines, only 8,000 barangays have not been declared drug-free—an improvement of around 4,000 barangays since the start of President Marcos’ term of office in 2022.
Police Lt. Gen. Sermonia assured the attendees that the PNP’s peace and security programs will give overseas Filipinos “peace of mind while you are away from your loved ones.” He also urged the attendees to invite their families and friends to visit the Philippines for business and tourism, assuring them that it is safe to invest in and travel the country. END
Consul General Neil Ferrer delivers his welcome remarks during the Filipino Community meeting of PNP Deputy Chief Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in San Francisco on 20 October 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Police Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia presents the programs and services of the Philippine National Police, during his meeting with the Filipino Community at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in San Francisco on 20 October 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Police Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia receives a token from the Filipino American Law Enforcement Officers (FALEO) Association, during the former’s meeting with the Filipino Community atthe Scottish Rite Masonic Center in San Francisco on 20 October 2023. (San Francisco PCG photo)