PNP to work with OTS in ensuring public safety

FILE: Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed to continue to work together with the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) to ensure the safety and security of the public.

“Both our organizations although on different scales, share a common mandate to ensure general public safety and security in our respective scopes of mission, encompassing civil aviation, sea transport and marine infrastructure and transportation and rail system,” said PNP General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in his message during the 14th anniversary celebration of the OTS in Pasay City on Tuesday afternoon.

“Our respective missions maybe different but essentially analogous in the sense that out respective mandates complements each other’s with OTS at the forefront our country is assure of safety in the air, sea and land transportation platforms but by pro active police presence and swift response,” he added.

The PNP chief also acknowledged the efforts of the agency for the effective performance of its mission as our country’s first line of defense against illegal contraband that pass through our airports and seaports.

“I particularly commend the OTS for the series of successful operations that led to interception of illegal drugs, weapons, and contraband that use the public transportation system in cracking these illegal items,” he said.

Dela Rosa noted that such effort is in line with the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

“This efforts goes well working model of the whole government approach in the national anti-drug and anti-crime campaign that we are implementing aggressively in coordination with other law enforcement agencies. I am confident that the OTS will continue to make headway in our war on drugs as well as in our own anti-drug crime campaign as you know by now the PNP has resume its law enforcement role in the anti-drug war,” he said.

“Because PNP and OTS are both law enforcement agencies, we share responsibilities in general public safety and security. I trust that we continue to engage in collaborative efforts within our respective capacities to further advance the post of good governance and social justice,” dela Rosa said.

“Likewise we need to build strong partnerships and collaboration among agencies in ensuring public safety and for us to meet our peace and order objectives,” he said.

Present during the celebration were OTS Administrator Usec. Arturo M. Evangelista; Deputy Administrator Atty. Miguel Oraa and other officials from some government agencies such as the Department of Transportation and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

In 2014, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo created the OTS, which is under the former Department of Transportation and Communications. (PNA)