The Philippine National Police (PNP), under PNP Chief Police General Nicolas Torre III, tackled proactive policing agendas during a high-level command conference with regional directors and officers from Regions 6, 7, and the Negros Island Region.
āThere is really a need to focus and delineate strategies that would be implemented for the urban and rural areas. Commanders on the ground should know whatās happening,ā Torre said after his first command conference with regional police chiefs of Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Negros Island Region (NIR) on Saturday, June 14.
āDo people need five-minute response in the hinterland barangays? Maybe their needs are something else. Maybe they need service delivery,ā he added.
Brigadier Generals Jack Wanky, Redrico Maranan, and Arnold Thomas Ibay presented their respective operational strategies in response to the Chief PNPās directive. Central to the discussions were three priority areas: the 5-minute response time strategy, optimized deployment plans, and the deactivation of Police Community Precincts (PCPs).
The 5-minute response time strategy redefines law enforcement presence by shifting from fixed precinct structures to dynamic mobile patrols. āThe essence of this strategy is fast responseā24 hours a day,ā Torre emphasized.
āWe are doing away with stationary deployment. Police boxes and community precincts are being deactivated because we want our police out thereāon patrol, on the move, ready to respond,ā he said.
This reform initiative underscores the PNPās commitment to fighting criminality while remaining firmly grounded in the rule of law, respect for human rights, and due process. According to Torre, the directive is also a deliberate move to further professionalize the police ranks and install safeguards against abuse.
The regional directors laid out strategic deployment plans tailored to the unique needs of their respective areas, ensuring that resources are maximized, response times are minimized, and visibility is heightened across cities and municipalities.
This Visayas conference is an offshoot of the command conference held on June 13, 2025, at Camp Crame, Quezon City, attended by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla. During that meeting, regional directors from the National Capital Region Police Office, PRO3, and PRO4A detailed their operational plans aligned with the PNPās broader agenda to revolutionize frontline policing nationwide.
With these command engagements, Torre is resolute in his mission to embed a culture of urgency, accountability, and community engagement in the PNP. āDonāt look for us at the precincts. Weāre on your phones. Dial 911āweāll be there in five minutes,ā he said.
āThe PNP remains steadfast in its pledge: to serve and protect with greater speed, visibility, and responsivenessālaying the foundation for a truly modern and trusted Filipino police force,ā he added.
Meanwhile, the DILG said it will procure more patrol vehicles in support of the PNPās effort to boost mobility and visibility under the new 5-minute response strategy.
In a statement, the PNP said Secretary Remulla made the commitment during the June 13 conference, expressing the DILGās full support for the evolving operational landscape.
The strategy signals a major shift from traditional precinct-based policing, transforming law enforcement into a more mobile, proactive, and people-centered service to ensure swift, professional responses at any hour.
āThis transformation goes beyond patrol deployment. Itās about rebuilding trust through swift action, professionalism, and accountabilityāwhile remaining firmly anchored in the rule of law, human rights, and due process,ā said Torre.