COL. BATUAN
The Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO), under the leadership of Provincial Director Col. Lorenzo Batuan, has issued a directive to all municipal police stations to engage more actively with the media and the public.
This move comes in response to a decline in the BPPO’s net satisfaction rating (NSR), as revealed in the recent Bohol Poll 2024.
During a press conference on May 15, 2024, Batuan acknowledged the need to improve public perception and dispel any misconceptions, which are suspected to be behind the BPPO’s NSR decline.
He also expressed apologies for any instances where police personnel may have declined interviews with the media.
Batuan debunked the public’s suspicion about drug recycling, clarifying that drugs confiscated by the police in operations do not get recycled and sold anew on the streets.
He explained that the large volume of drugs confiscated is a result of the intense campaign against drug personalities, and the strict protocol on drug custody makes it hard for anyone to recycle drugs.
Despite these efforts, the BPPO’s NSR, which stood at a robust +73 in 2019, has been on a downward trajectory, falling to +61 in 2022, +60 in 2023, and a significant drop to +37 in 2024.
This decline has been attributed to the BPPO’s perceived inability to effectively tackle the issue of illegal drugs in the province.
Batuan, who was appointed by Gov. Aris Aumentado right after the 2022 election to head Bohol PNP operations, sees the decline in the rating as a wake-up call and a motivation to do better, especially in the fight against illegal drugs.
He vowed to improve the police’s performance and serve the people of Bohol well, emphasizing the need to improve public and community relations to gain the people’s trust and confidence.
Batuan also acknowledged the support of provincial and local government units in providing financial aid to boost the fight against drugs.
He reassured the public that the BPPO will continue to work towards maintaining peace and order in Bohol.