PCCI, PNP launch Bayaning Pulis Foundation for families of slain cops

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries and the Philippine National Police on Friday launched the Bayaning Pulis Foundation, Inc. which aims to provide support for the education of fallen police officers' dependents.

Bayaning Pulis Foundation, Inc. President Police Brigadier General Noel Baraceros clarified that the foundation will augment the existing scholarships being provided to the slain cops’ dependents under Republic Act No. 6963 or the “Act Granting Special Financial Assistance And Benefits to the Family or Beneficiary of any Police or Military Personnel or Fireman Killed or Permanently Incapacitated while in the Performance of his Duty or By Reason of His Office or Position and for Other Purposes.”

“We realized that our fallen heroes who did the ultimate sacrifice for our country and for ensuring our peace, safety and security are most of the time the only breadwinner and head of their families and that their untimely death resulted in great burden to their families in terms of financial survival and much more on ensuring education for their children,” Baraceros said.

Beneficiaries of the foundation will be evaluated by members of the committee led by Baraceros, with certain qualifications to be followed, explained PCCI President Benedicto Yujuico.

"Si President Baraceros will continuously evaluate the candidates for the assistance of our foundation... We will be continuing to do the evaluation as we are able to actually improve 'yong aming internal kasi nag-uumpisa pa lang kami ngayon," Yujuico said.

"May mga procedures na dapat naming gawin and as soon as that is finished and we are able to implement, magkakaroon tayo ng additional beneficiaries," he added.

PNP chief Police General Camilo Cascolan, meanwhile, said among those being considered are the dependents of the police officers killed-in-action in drug operations and the 44 fallen members of the elite police Special Action Force who were killed in the 2015 clash in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao.

Moreover, Yujuico said they are also looking into providing assistance to retired police officers.

"We are trying to develop a program para matulungan na magkaroon sila ng maliit na negosyo," he said. — DVM, GMA News