On February 14, 2012, the Regional Legal Service of Police Regional Office 1 together with PCINSP JINKY A ACACIO, PSINSP GARRY FRANCO PUASO and PO2 Nobledon T Baengan from LS Headquarters conducted information dissemination on Updates of the Legal Assistance Program under the Project: Tambuli at Concord Building, Camp Brigadier General Oscar M Florendo, Parian, San Fernando City, La Union.

The activity started at 8:00 AM and attended by PSSUPT ALEJANDRO M VALERIO JR, RCDS, PRO1 who gave the welcome remarks and short message to the one hundred forty-five (145) participants composed of the RESPO, PESPOs, BESPOs, CESPOs, MESPOs, Chief Clerks of the Divisions and NSUs of Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1).

The Flagship Programs of the PNP Legal Service particularly the Legal Assistance Program and its updates were discussed during the activity. Thereafter, an Open-Forum followed to clarify and answer queries raised by the participants.

Prior termination of the activity, it was requested from the participants to disseminate the Flagship Program of the PNP Legal Service in their respective AORs.

The following are the pictures taken during the activity:

             One of the purposes, if not the main purpose, of law enforcement is to ensure that crime does not pay. To most law enforcers and the public in general, there is a prevailing notion that in order to do that, you have to secure a criminal conviction and see to it that the criminal is incarcerated. The problem with putting the criminal behind bars is that there are so many loopholes in our criminal laws.

            In his column CTalk published in the newspaper Philippine Star on March 4, 2011, Cito Beltran held the observation that, “Our laws make it just as hard for law enforcers to enforce the law and arrests, as much as it makes it difficult for citizens to defend themselves”. He went on to say that other nations where we copied our laws learned how to rewrite them but here in the Philippines. “...we insist on carrying on with their mistake.” He cited as example, Australia and some parts of America and Europe where, “...they will charge you with a misdemeanour or fine you for minor vehicular accidents or for possession of a limited quantity of drugs.” He argued: “The philosophy is that if you want to teach people a lesson, do it by hurting their pockets or their wallets. That is how Singapore earned the title a “Fine” city-state. They fine you for every violation.”