PNP expanding social media engagement

September 25, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said they will expand informative social media engagement to heighten public awareness of relevant social issues on public order and safety.

Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan directed the PNP- Director for Police Community Relations to closely monitor actions taken by PNP units on netizens’ reports sent through social media platforms.

According to DPCR Director Maj. General Dionardo Carlos, the PNP policy on social media use seeks to address gaps and challenges encountered in previous memorandum circular on PNP presence in social networking sites.

Carlos cited recent analytics on PNP social media engagements that showed barely 25 percent of 1,776 official PNP social media pages are actually active.

“One issue that needs to be addressed is the seemingly reactive and passive stance of some PNP socmed ( social media) pages that do not actively engage reports by netizens,” he said.

“Policies and guidelines on social media engagement by PNP units and personnel emphasize on awareness of data privacy and anti-cybercrime laws, and accountability of PNP personnel and Units in posting and sharing social media content,” he added

Carlos said the PNP recognizes social media as an effective tool, especially in this time of pandemic, to promote proactive information and awareness while building harmonious relationships with the community.

He seconded earlier pronouncements by Cascolan that the police organization respects the “administrative actions taken by Facebook on what they perceive to be violations of its terms of use.”

Carlos said official social networking sites maintained by the PNP and its lower units are “aligned with the objectives of the organization in promoting advocacy for honest, transparent and truthful social engagement over cyberspace”.

“These sites remain compliant with socmed community standards and continue to serve its purpose along the objectives,” he said.

The PNP said they will continue to adhere to institutional policy that follows proper decorum in all public engagements including social media platforms, chat groups, and private sites. Ella Dionisio/DMS