MANILA, Philippines: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday reminded the Philippine National Police (PNP) to be more involved in the community to gain more trust from the public.

During the first Joint National Peace and Order Council (NPOC) and Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meetings in Malacañang, the chief executive pointed out that effective police work could only be achieved when law enforcement and the public are in sync.

"You have to be on the beat, to know the people, and to understand what's happening," Marcos said. "That is when we will have credibility. They trust you, they know you. To them you'll be more than just policemen, you're one of them."

The President further stated that law enforcement must go beyond procuring high-tech equipment to fight crime such as the proliferation of illegal drugs, this must be partnered by their presence on the ground.

"I think it is a very important lesson that despite all of the other things from having the satellite, being on cyberspace -- of course, we're using all that, but at the end of it all, you still have to be part of the community. And that's the only time [we are] truly effective is when the community trusts our policemen," he said.

Meanwhile, Marcos and the defense and security cluster tackled key national security concerns during the NPOC and RPOC meetings which included geopolitical issues, the West Philippine Sea and other territorial disputes, the communist terrorist groups (CTG), and the government's campaign against narcotics.

According to the National Security Council (NSC), the protracted wars and global issues have serious and detrimental effects on the country particularly on the safety of overseas Filipinos, global oil prices resulting in shortages and higher prices of goods, and the Philippines' economic growth targets.

China's continuing aggressive actions in the WPS are seen as a major threat to the country's borders through the harassment and obstruction of Philippine naval operations, harassment of Filipino fisherfolk, and the use of engagements as warfare tactics to influence Filipinos.

In the fight against insurgency, the council noted that there werre only nine remaining weakened guerilla fronts in the country with 1,576 members and 1,406 firearms.

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