Res Gestae
Secret of successful police service
It is a fact that there is no magic formula for success. But it doesn't mean that success is without formula at all. People who succeed in life can testify that life's triumphs are not predetermined; they are made. They have followed certain rules; rules which they have found suited in their respective circumstances.
Sun Tzu's Art of War, for example, offers one secret formula for successful military warfare – 'Know yourself and your enemy'. In fact, his philosophy has been adopted worldwide in modern military principles and doctrines.
Recently, I learned another formula for success.
I had a chance last Tuesday to attend the entrance briefing of Police Regional Office 6 with the team from Internal Affairs Service National Headquarters who visited the region to conduct the Annual General Inspection – Operational Readiness, Security Inspection and Test Evaluation (AGI-ORSITE). The team was headed by Atty Alexis Canonizado, the Inspector General of IAS.
In his message to the PRO 6 personnel, Canonizado shared his wisdom on successful police service. He exhorted them to have the 3Is in order to be successful in their career as law enforcers: Intelligence, Integrity, and Industry. He stressed that having one of the 3I's would not suffice to succeed. These elements are interrelated and mutually dependent. Hence, the police officers who are intelligent, with deep sense of integrity, and industrious, are guaranteed to succeed in their career. Logically, their opposites - the ignorant, immoral, and indolent police officers - are doomed to failure.
Canonizado, being a non-uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police, is the oldest among the PNP top brasses. He is retiring this October, on his 65th birthday. And, probably, this is his last official visit to Region 6.
I strongly believe that all PNP members want to be successful in their chosen fields. That is not impossible. They can be successful. And, Canonizado said what these police personnel need to do is simply to internalize the 3Is and work hard to show them in their lives. Intelligence is developed by untiringly learning and re-learning. Integrity is developed by maintaining a clean and healthy lifestyle. And, industry is developed by perseverance.
This formula is maybe easy said than done. But, all police personnel must know that, like the time-honored principle in combat operations - "the hard way is the safest way", success is no easy labor. One must work hard to have it. That is the secret.
(Comments to rogatepnp@yahoo.com or 09193161190.)