In a quiet town in Batanes, police officers patrol peace instead of crime

UYUGAN, Batanes — In a country where police work is often synonymous with danger, two young patrolmen assigned to one of the nation’s most peaceful provinces say their daily routine looks very different.

Patrolmen Robert Pugong and Angelito Resulta arrived in the Municipality of Uyugan in Batanes only last October, fresh into their deployment and expecting the usual mix of community disputes and small-town trouble.

Instead, they found something else entirely — quiet.

“So far, since dumating kami dito, wala pa kaming nawi-witness na malalang krimen,” Resulta told GMA News Online in quick interview. 

(So far, since we arrived here, we have not witnessed a heinous crime.)

"Kapag meron man, mga away mag-asawa lang (If there is [disturbance], it's a marital dispute).”

In fact, only one incident has been reported to them since they arrived — a testament to the town’s long-held reputation for safety and order. 

The patrolmen said their work revolves mostly around visibility, daily rounds, and maintaining the sense of security locals already feel.

‘Kampante kami dito’

For Pugong, the contrast between police work elsewhere and policing in Batanes is stark.

“'Pag pulis, buwis-buhay talaga ang trabaho,” he said. 

"Pero dito… kampante kami kasi hindi magulo.”

(When you're a policeman, you risk your life in doing your job. But here... we are at peace because it is not unruly.)

Patrolmen Robert Pugong and Angelito Resulta in Uyugan, Batanes. SHERYLIN UNTALAN/GMA Integrated News

The two officers say the calm is not due to lack of vigilance but to the culture of the Ivatans — often described as honest, disciplined, and community-oriented. 

In Uyugan, neighbors look out for one another, disputes rarely escalate, and trust in authorities remains high.

For the both of them, the peace of Uyugan has reshaped how they view their uniform. 

Rather than responding to crises, they spend more time building rapport with residents, checking in on far-flung sitios, and working with barangay officials to keep the environment as serene as they found it.

“Mas payapa talaga ang pagiging pulis dito (Police work is really calmer here),” Resulta said, adding that the slower pace allows them to focus on prevention and community presence rather than constant intervention.

A rare posting

Uyugan’s crime rate mirrors that of the rest of Batanes — consistently among the lowest in the country. For officers accustomed to preparing for high-risk situations, serving in this northern island province is not just a job assignment; it’s a window into what community policing could look like when peace is the norm, not the exception.

And for now, the two patrolmen seem grateful for the rare posting.

“Wala masyadong gulo (There is not much trouble),” Pugong said with a smile. 

"Sana ganito sa lahat (We hope it will be like this everywhere)." —KG, GMA Integrated News