D.P.A. (Straight from the Camp)
By Francisco B. Lindero Jr.

 A former 6 th RMG member has spoken

My article, “Welcome to 6 th RMG”, which was published in two parts - Part I (March 4-7) and Part II (March 8-10), revealed my deep conviction on the nature and character of the said PNP operational support unit, along with my intention to provide the readers with basic information of its existence and significance.

Indubitably, the presentation manifested my unorthodox concept on the practices being observed to welcome would-be members in the unit. While others considered my writing a masochist philosophy in disguise, I remain firm in the true nature of my advocacy – to maintain a balance perspective towards the PNP organization. Thus, I dare to condemn its scalawag members as much as I accorded appreciation to those who performed well.

As I regularly received reactions from readers and sometimes drained to “check operator” my pre-paid mobile phone in a meaningful exchange of ideas with them ,   I realized that I am not alone in the mission. Maybe, I am first who started it on paper. But , many out there have the enthusiasm and energy equal to or even more intense than mine and are willing to share their views on the current issues concerning police officers or the PNP organization in general.

Let's take, for example, this reaction from one of my readers. His outpouring of sentiments has made me realized that what I have written in “Welcome to 6 th RMG” is but a little fraction of the feelings of the proud member of the 6 th RMG family. Read and feel the intensity deep within him.   Here he goes…

“Coming out of the portals of the training school and having the basic knowledge in Police work as his “soul” is the first part of being a Law Enforcer, being assigned to the 6 th Regional Mobile Group is a different story and is yet another part of the learning and training process.

Within the white painted walls and regimented schedules, one who aspires to be a policeman is bombarded and armed with information equipping him with the basics of what a police work should be thru books and generally accepted principles and teaching aides, in accordance with the approved Program of Instructions.

In this program, a police recruit is subjected to vigorous physical and mind-breaking assortments ranging from Police Doctrines, Laws, and other aspects of law enforcement, enabling him to have basic knowledge and skills to be educated, well-informed and knowledgeable in his future tasks. There is also the so-called “breaking period” wherein a police recruit is converted from his civilian mentality to as well-organized, team player and effective members of the force, casting away his civilian actuations. After this is the militaristic phase, another program for police related operations ranging from manhunt operations, counter-insurgency, police tactics and others, which completes the basic in police work.

These are all embraced in the theoretical and ideological framework of the learning, governed by laws, procedures, customs, traditions and other doctrines adopted and implemented by the organization.

Having been equipped the recruits with their “souls” , he now needs to have his “body”, to fully exercise his sworn duty.

“Welcome to the 6 th RMG, the home of The Few, The Proud and The Brave” , greets one neophyte police officer as he enters, as I remember it well, and must understand that TRADITIONS adopted in the training school differ greatly with that of this unit as well as to the other units nationwide.

Well-within its confines are bodies of beliefs, stories, customs and usages, handed down from generation to generation with the effect of an unwritten law . Closely-knit individuals, relying on each other for their lives as they perform internal security operations in this mountainous area of Western Visayas , pestered with communists and dissident terrorists, wherein, a common bond to members is “One who comes and shows his intentions of being a member must prove himself worthy and eventually, undergo its unwritten laws”.

This is based on the common knowledge that no one could save you in times of life and death and you would not give your trust to anyone, except to the ones you consider more than a brother and a friend – your fellow police officers, either your senior, your classmate or your junior.

Being subjected to these unwritten laws is not designed and intended to debilitate, harm and injure. The process is to make a neophyte understand and put to heart the value of being able to experience what probable incidents or scenarios that one may have during an actual police operation specially during Internal Security Operations (ISO) related cases, even in the arrest of offenders during and the day to day walking the beat. He must beat and experience the hardships, the hurt of being a captive of his enemies or even being in the middle of a fistfight with the offender he is arresting, which is done in mocked-up scenes during the “Welcome”.

Aside from this, the experience makes the groups relationships, among their “ Boks ” and “Mates” to greatly increase for they now know whom they can trust their life to, when pushing turns to shoving and when all gets worse.

On the part of their Seniors , it is a show window of the real attitudes of their siblings under pressure, and will be tried to correct as their siblings start their lives in the unit, inter-mingling and being together in actual operations.

Thru this process, a person can see his inner self, his hidden abilities and capabilities, his strengths and weaknesses, amidst adversary, to enable him handle effectively what is handed and is faced to him. He is reduced to his barest self, and that after all of the trials, he will be given a new “body”, equipped from the inside and hardened from the outside, to face this perilous world of Law Enforcement.

Indeed, it depends on the individuals coping mechanism but please consider the poem “LOYALTY” by Sir Elbert Hubbard which goes, “If you must growl, condemn and eternally find fault while in that position, but as long as you are part of that organization, DO NOT condemn it, for if you do, the first high wind that comes along will blow you away and probably you will never know why!”

Simply put, before you take any actions, consider all things first and their consequences. For every action there is a corresponding reaction as they say. You are a member of the same organization that you are trying to stain and pull down the drain, when it falls, you too fall with it, under its rubble.

Take it as a test of your real intentions.

It is just but passing scene. After one had undergone the trials, the traditions, welcome, reception rites; a deep sense of belongingness, fulfillment, camaraderie, respect and trust sets in and will remain forever instilled in your hearts and minds, even if you have parted ways with your fellows.

Looking back on our experiences, we felt no remorse, grudge and ill-feelings in what we have been through, instead we took it as our great pride and fulfillment that during our neophyte years in the service, we have been exposed to understand the true essence of traditions in the service, particularly in the 6 th RMG, and had paved the way for our actions and decisions as we go on as Law Enforcers.

We too have suffered, battered, slapped, beaten, smashed, pummeled, and whatever, physically, emotionally and psychologically, but we did not let these hamper or discourage us, lest we made it as our stepping stone and learning blocks, bringing along the good and discarding the bad and move forward for the greater glory of the organization which we represent and are members of and not of selfish and cowardly intentions.” – PO2 Rodel Canja , Antique Policed Provincial Office

In the end of his letter, PO2 Canja appealed to his juniors, especially those who are yet to join the fold of 6 th RMG, as he puts it succinctly: “If you could only do and think the same!” And , I add, “Otherwise, step out!   You are in a wrong place!”

For comments, e-mail me at rogatepnp@yahoo.com or send SMS to 09193161190.