SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano suggested to the Department of Education the possible inclusion in the curriculum of the role of the police in the community to elevate its stature in the eyes of the public.

Cayetano made this suggestion on December 12, 2023, in his interpellation on Senate Bill No. 2449 sponsored by Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa which proposes amendments to the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.

The senator stressed that public perception is essential in building trust and confidence in the police force and teaching the children about the police role in the community and nation building will greatly impact the PNP’s identity.

He even said that public perception of the PNP has gotten so low that even television programs tend to portray the police organization negatively.

He recalled the time in 2018 when then-PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde expressed concern about the adverse portrayal of police officers in the media, specifically in a widely-watched television program of a popular network.

But it will not be easy. Cayetano said that teaching children about the role of the police force in society is a great step but it will take years to change the public perception of the law enforcers.

Cayetano’s suggestion is based on the move of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew who tasked the Ministry of Education to change the perception of their country’s new generation on the police force. The Singaporean leader gave his education leaders 10 years to accomplish the task.

The independent senator, however, clarified that he is not advocating a manipulated or falsely elevated perception of the police through education, saying public perception should be matched by a “revival of the heart” of the police officers and the organization itself.