Gov. Edgar Chatto on Friday issued to the Bohol police his “Ten Commandments” so that peace, order and sustainable progress may reign supreme over the sins by lawlessness against the Boholano society, institutions and, above all, the people. The province's number one leader drafted in the universal language what he calls the “Ten Principles of Effective Law Enforcement,” but spoke of them substantially in the dialect so even the common man will comprehend it during his weekly Kita ug Ang Gobernador live broadcast. His first rule is for the police organization to “strengthen” its “network with the provincial, city and municipal and national agencies focusing on programs for peace and order through the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC).” The principles ideal strategies which the governor drew from his interactions with the people and his own experiences as a public servant.

The governor wanted the men in uniform and line law enforcement units to hold sacred the 10 “shalls” as the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) changed command from Sr. Supt. Rodolfo Llorca to Sr. Supt. Constantino Barot, Jr. at Camp Dagohoy on Wednesday. Llorca, then assigned to Bohol on Comelec's authority at the height of the election campaign period until last Wednesday, left the province a less-accomplished police command and a civilian populace of over 1.2 million people thirsty for effective police command. Himself adhering to the 10 principles, the governor will expect the law enforcers led by the new PNP chief to embrace and uphold the same. Barot has yet to prove his badge. He also came to JJ's Seafood village where Chatto aired, the first time outside People's Mansion due to a sudden province-wide power blackout, his Kita ug Ang Gobernador and declared his set of rules for better law execution by the police. The governor's sixth “commandment” obviously demands “obedience” from the police provincial director.

The governor demanded from the police officers equal adherence to the following 10 principles:

1. Strengthen your network with the provincial, city, municipal and national agencies focusing on programs for peace and order through the provincial peace and Order Council.
2. Strengthen your alliance with the provincial leadership and other sectors, especially in the Provincial Development Council.
3. Establish strong communication links with the mayors, other local leaders and the people in general through efficient and effective communication systems.
4. Keep away from any temptation and being branded/suspected as protectors of illegal activities.
5. Aim for higher standards in addressing criminality, including robberies, illegal drugs, illegal gambling and others.
6. Lead by example and ensure the support and respect of the men and women in the Bohol PNP Command.
7. Give time to explain in clear terms to the Bohol media your policies and programs, including current peace and order situation.
8. Consolidate support and respect from all sectors of society such as business, religious, etcetera.
9. Make sure to establish a strong feedback mechanism from the field to easily monitor criminality and enhance prompt response to such contingency.
10. Mobilize the people to participate and get involved in crime prevention and crime solution.

Chatto underscored the healthy need for mutual official and professional respect among LGU and police officials. The governor met with the mayors and vice mayors and demanded the same intensity of passion for the effective law enforcement principles. He assured the police officers of his support like intelligence fund to capacitate them and their men in their public safety mission. However, the governor emphasized the need for constant police visibility, stating further that the visibility of “inspired PNP officers is one of the best strategies to address criminality.” In the turnover of the PNP-Bohol command from Llorca to Barot, the former apologized for his absences from succeeding highly-important PPOC meetings.

Hinting on how a police provincial chief should work his way to the full trust of the Boholanos, Chatto declared that the performance of the police must satisfy not the governor but the people. In the lighter side of the story, meanwhile, the top Bohol PNP command turnover occurred on the day Llorca, who is from Luzon, marked the birthday of his wife, who is not a Boholana, and Barot, who is from Negros, celebrating the anniversary of his wedding to his Boholana wife.(Ven rebo Arigo)