Gov. Imee inducts 10,000 new members of BPATs

Gov. Imee R. Marcos inducted five thousand newly selected members of the Ilocos Norte Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams (BPATs) from District 1 at the Imelda Cultural Center, Batac City last September 8, 2012 and five thousand members of the BPATs from District 2 at the Sarrat Community Center, Sarrat last September 9, 2012 during the Marcos Fiesta 2012: Apo Ferdinand E. Marcos 95th Birth Anniversary Celebration.

The Philippine National Police organized the BPATs to expand the use of civilians in neighborhood patrolling and to strengthen cooperation among police and citizens for crime prevention. As a highlight of the oath taking ceremonies, Gov. Marcos promised the BPATs with health security by getting Philhealth cards and distributed reflectorized vests after the induction ceremonies that will help them maintain peace and ensure order in their area of responsibility.

Gov. Marcos encouraged the newly inducted members of BPATs to help the PNP and the province in reducing the crime rate by reporting illegal loggers in their area, activities of dynamite fishing, and other crimes which continue to plague the province. Sen. Manny Villar, who was present together with his wife, Congresswoman Cynthia Villar during the Marcos Fiesta 2012, said that the BPATs in the province of Ilocos Norte are very organized. He also said that he had never seen a mass oath taking as many as the province had inducted during the oath takings.-