Albayalde on UP exec’s openness to having campus security be trained by PNP: That’s a good sign

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Thursday welcomed the remark of an official from the University of the Philippines that the school is open to have its security officers be trained by the police.

"That's a good sign, at least they admit na talagang mayroong problema doon. No less than the chair of the CHED (Commission on Higher Education) have already said na talagang may problema doon sa loob especially proliferation of illegal drugs," Albayalde said during a press briefing.

Reports stated that Elena Pernia, UP Vice President for Public Affairs, has said the campus is open to the idea of having its police and security guards be trained by PNP to strengthen their capabilities.

On Tuesday, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Prospero De Vera underscored that information-sharing between security forces and the academe is necessary in order to address the crime situation inside the campus, including the alleged proliferation of illegal drugs.

Albayalde also said he had obtained reports about petty crimes taking place in other UP campuses such as in Los Baños, Laguna.

"So how they can monitor? They were not even intelligence-trained... itong mga tao na to, they don't even have police power to investigate and to file cases. Kailangan talaga nila ang tulong natin doon," Albayalde said.

Albayalde said he prefers to conduct the possible training of UP security personnel in the facilities of the PNP.

The PNP and the academe already started its series of dialogue which aims to "explore common ground where government and the academe can fulfill its respective mandates." — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News