Police Director Hubert Müller, head of the Second Standby Police Division, a recruitment and training institution for police service in Eichstätt, Bavaria, Germany successfully concluded his nine-day official visit to the Philippines from November 27 to December 05, 2011.

Mr. Müller’s follow-up visit to the country was part of the existing partnership between the Hanns Seidel Foundation/Germany (HSF) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), under the former’s Exchange and Study program. The objective of the program is to share knowledge and expertise in the fields of training and further training, recruitment and policing system both in the Philippines and Bavaria/ Germany, and contribute to the long-term implementation of our joint programs in the country.

The highlights of his visit included a courtesy call to Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome, Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and participation in a Round-table Discussion with top officials of the PNP and key representatives of relevant national government agencies to share the experiences and recommendations of the former members of HSF-sponsored PNP Delegations in Bavaria, Germany as well as to generate support in the implementation of best practices learned from Germany especially those that need support from the PNP leadership and policy- and decision-makers alike.

Mr. Müller had the opportunity to deliver important lecture-presentations and interact with key police officers during a Trainers’ Training organized by the PNP Human Rights Affairs Office and at the regular Police Information and Continuing Education session of Police Regional Office 1 at the regional headquarters in La Union Province as well as in a conference-call to the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management and the Philippine Public Safety College. The topics covered were:  “Communication and Conflict Management” in relation to police work, “Police Recruitment System in the State of Bavaria, Germany” (policies, standards and procedures), Police Training System in the State of Bavaria, Germany, and “Policing Tactics during Rallies/Demonstrations in Observance of the Rule of Law and Human Rights”. He also appreciated the meeting with civil society leaders in La Union and talk to them about their cooperation with the PNP engendered by the project on “Community-based Dialogue Sessions on Human Rights Promotion and Protection” at the regional and provincial levels.

Mr. Müller was pleased with the positive feedback and observations shared with him by the PNP on the outcome of the HSF-sponsored PNP Delegations in Bavaria, Germany, and acknowledged that the PNP is well on its way to reaching its goals and objectives toward transformation in a short period of time, which he attributes to the sincerity and commitment of the Aquino government and the PNP leadership. In particular, he noted the firm support and commitment of the PNP to the HSF-PNP program cooperation.

Overall, the follow-up visit of Mr. Müller to the PNP serves to advance our program cooperation in the fields of recruitment, training and education, and human rights-based policing, all geared towards the promotion of the rule of law.