( The author is Chairman of the CRANE Election Committee)
As I write this piece of contribution to our CRANE Monitor, the only thing that I have in mind is the Capability Enhancement Seminar for the People’s Law Enforcement Boards (PLEBSs, for brevity) in the Province of Camarines Sur that will be sponsored by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), Camarines Sur Chapter and the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM RV) in coordination with the Provincial Office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government on My 4-5, 2006 at Regent Hotel, Elias Angeles Street in Naga City.
Modesty aside, NAPOLCOM lawyers serve as legal consultants of the PLEBs nationwide. For the year 2006, the Regional Office of the NAPOLCOM has already conducted a similar seminar in the Province of Camarines Norte. In 2005, the PLEB Chairmen and Members in the province of Catanduanes already underwent his kind of seminar to enhance their skills in the of hearings conduct and deciding police administrative cases filed before them(citizen’s complaints, in particular) against alleged erring uniformed officers and members of the Philippines National Police. The common objectives of the seminar are to provide participants with complete overview of the powers and functions of PLEBs as police disciplinary body, to enable the members of the different PLEBs to share their experiences and the problems encountered in their operations, and to be able to come up with more effective and efficient means of discharging their functions.
People empowerment finds actualization in the administration of police administrative disciplinary system with the participation of community members through the passage of RA 6975 in 1990 which provides for the creation of the People’s Law Enforcement Boards (PLEBs) and further strengthened with the approval of RA 8551, otherwise known as the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.
The pertinent laws further provide that the sangguniang panlungsod/bayan in every city and municipality shall create such number of PLEBs as may be necessary. The PLEB shall be composed of any member of the sangguniang panlungsod/bayan chosen by his respective sanggunian, any Barangay captain (Punong Barangay) of the city/municipality concerned chosen by the association of Barangay captains (LIga ng mga Barangay)and three (3) other members who are removable only for cause to be chosen by the Local Peace and Order Council from among the respected members of the community known for their probity and integrity, one (1) of whom must be a woman and another a member of the Bar, or , in the absence thereof a college graduate, or the principal of the central elementary school in the locality. The Chairman of the PLEB shall be elected from among its members.
The term of office of the PLEB members shall be for a period of three (3) years from assumption of office. Such member shall hold office until his successor shall have been chosen and qualified. Membership in the PLEB is a civic duty. However, PLEB members shall be paid per diem and shall be provided with life insurance coverage as may be determined by the city or municipal council from city or municipal funds. The DILG shall provide for the per diem and insurance coverage of PLEB members in certain low income municipalities. The PLEBs must be viewed not as enemies of the police force but as partners in the promotion of peace and order in every community. You may visit our website at www.napolcom.gov.ph.
