First 'all-women' police station launched in Maria, Siquijor

The Philippine National Police (PNP) established its first woman-run police station in the municipality of Maria, Siquijor on Saturday.

Regional Director Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, who supports the "maiden initiative" in Central Visayas, said the move would "strongly advance women empowerment in promoting public safety and security services at all levels of police units and offices in the region."

According to the PNP, the municipal police station was complimented by only six female policewomen prior to the launch.

Now, the station fittingly dubbed as the "Mariang Pulis," operated with a "full capacity" of 21 female police officers.

The official launch was led by newly designated station chief, Police Captain Judith Besas who, the PNP said, was "equally capable of steering the police station to its heights."

The Siquior Police Provincial Office's (SPPO's ) Police Colonel Angela Rejan profiled the policewomen in the province and selected those who would undertake a capacity development training, which included driving, shooting, arresting techniques, and other police operation and intervention procedures such as checkpoint, Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), and First Aid, among others.

"Having initiated this new concept of gender and development for policewomen in Siquijor, the Mariang Pulis signals the time to move forward in promoting the vision and mission of the PNP in creating an opportunity for women to strengthen their role in the context of policing in the law enforcement pillar," the female police director said.

The now women-dominated police station also reflected the history of Maria.

According to the PNP, the town was named after a famous native woman called “Kangminya" long before the Spaniards came to Siquijor and was eventually renamed to “Maria” in honor of Our Lady of Divine Providence, the town’s patron saint. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News