NCRPO launches Salaam Police center for Muslim community in Metro Manila

Miami
May 28, 2008
Story: NCRPO launches Salaam Police center for Muslim community in Metro Manila

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has launched Wednesday, May 28,a Salaam Police Center on each district of Metro Manila to have a better coordination between Muslim Community and Policemen.

The word Salaam is an Arabic word which means Peace.

The Muslim community is willing to cooperate with the policemen in order to eliminate their image as troublemaker.

Sr. Supt. Ahirium Ajirim, Chief of Sallam police Center assigned in Camp Crame said with this project , they expect other people to know them very well as good people and willing to help others. “Not all our Muslim brothers and sisters are bad. Though we admit that some of them are being used by bad people to commit crimes,” Ajirim said.

Ajirim also said that with the Salaam Police center they are also hoping that with the arrest on their Muslim brothers, no violation of human rights will occur.

On each district of NCRPO, the Manila, Eastern, Southern, Quezon City and Northern will have at least 10 policemen on the Salaam Police center. But, Ajirim said as of this moment they are still lacking of policemen.

For the meantime, they will also accept any Muslim who wants to be volunteers on their police center. The volunteers will help the police understand the culture of the Muslims, at the same time the Muslim volunteers have to orient their community on the works of the police in order for them to understand that the Police is not targeting them as suspects all the time.

Each district also will have livelihood project for their Muslim Community wherein the Muslim community will attend seminars that can help them improve their lives. The seminars or training that will be available for them are dressmaking, cellphone or computer technician, welding and automotive service.

NCRPO Regional Director Geary Barias said, “organization like this can help many people. Not only our Muslim community but others as well, because these Muslim brothers and sisters who will be volunteering themselves can also help some Christian people. So, it will be a good environment for us.”

Barias also added with this project, it will help widen or broaden the understanding of each people whether they have different religion or beliefs.

Ajirim is hoping that this project will be successful and no problems within the Muslim volunteers and policemen. Also, he is hoping not only the districts will have Salaam police center but also down to the police stations of each districts.

As of this moment, they already have about 40 Muslim volunteers on all district office.