There is no denying the fact that the introduction of the manual that specifies the rules and regulations in handling children in conflict with the law will serve its purpose in the police force. Our police officers will be more confident when handling these cases, and more importantly the rights and the needs of the minors entangled with the law will be properly guarded and promoted. So what can the general public expect from this manual of the Department of Interior and Local Government? To give you an idea, here we list some of the important details included in the manual promoted and developed under the guidance of Secretary Ronnie Puno:

This is the assurance coming from the chief of the Philippine National Police himself. The PNP Chief Director General Jesus Versoza said in a statement last week that the Philippine National Police will remain insulated from politics this year and in the coming 2010 elections. This statement coming from the PNP Chief will surely calm down the nerves of some in the public. So even though Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government has shown interest in contesting the vice presidency next year, the police force will not be used to advance the interest of the secretary or of any administration candidate.

Now police officers dealing with cases related to children and minors will be informed and will be effective in their job. This will be made possible thanks to the launching of a manual that can guide police officers when they are dealing with children in conflict with the law. The manual launched by the Department of Interior and Local Government itemizes how officers can treat juvenile offenders once they get entangled with the law. These implementing rules and regulations are part of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

This piece of news should put an end to some speculations regarding the stand of Secretary Ronnie Puno about the charter change. The DILG chief has stated that he is in favor of amending the constitution provided that this should be done after the 2010 elections or after a new set of officials has been elected to office.

Secretary Ronnie Puno respects the accomplishments of former President Aquino, but in his opinion the nostalgic feelings  alone regarding the former president will not help win the election next year. This is how the DILG chief assessed the chances of Senator Noynoy Aquino in next year’s presidential elections.

Thanks to the added funds and budget for the Bureau of Fire Protection, the modernization plan for the bureau is on the right track. This new development regarding the BFP and the status of the modernization plan was shared recently by Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

In a press release that was shared by his office, the modernization plan got a boost since the office is now guaranteed of the 80 percent of the projected income based on the proceeds from the fire code fees. By estimates the revenues from the fire code fees may range from 1 billion to 1.5 billion pesos every year. He also shared that as part of their plans to beef up the fire-fighting capabilities of the bureau, the bureau will be hiring more fire fighting personnel every year.

Senator Mar Roxas has officially announced to the public that he is accepting the invitation of Senator Noynoy Aquino to be his running mate. The announcement was made yesterday at the famous Club Filipino, the same place where Senator Aquino has accepted the challenge to lead the revolution of change. This announcement by Senator Roxas did not surprise observers and the general public and there was this thinking that Roxas will indeed accept the post, and time was the only thing that is not sure. But now its official and the general public and political personalities welcomed this entry of Senator Roxas to the crowded field.

When it was obvious that the administration party has picked Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and signified its preference for Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government, the admin foes lost no time in countering the expected surge of support for the packed tandem of Teodoro and Puno for 2010 presidential elections. They are one in saying that the selection of Secretary Teodoro and the preference for Secretary Ronnie Puno is but the start of the expected government-led cheating reminiscent of the ‘Hello Garci’ case. Other observers also tried to bring up this issue and tried to put the tandem of Secretaries Puno and Teodoro in bad light.

Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government will lead the simple oath-taking rites of the members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Teams. As per estimate of the department, there are around 5,600 volunteers that will attend the simple ceremony, and this will be held at the provincial capitol. The new Barangay Peacekeeping Teams are the ones that are expected to implement the Barangay Peacekeeping Operations.

The long wait for the administration party is over. After the weeks of speculations and after playing the waiting game with Vice President Noli De Castro, the Lakas-Kampi CMD has formally announced its selection of its bet for next year’s 2010 elections. Secretary Gilbert Teodoro of the Department of Defense was selected as the standard bearer of this party, and Secretary Ronnie Puno was the preferred person to occupy the vice presidency slot.