Members of the community relations arm of the Philippine National
Police (PNP) have started distributing to the public horror-themed
masks, including one of US President Barack Obama, with safety tips for
the Halloween season printed on the back.
Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz, director of the PNP Police Community
Relations Group, was quick to explain, however, that the inclusion of
an Obama mask was not intended as a put-down of the US leader after
President Duterte announced a government pivot away from longtime ally
America.
In fact, Cruz said, the PNP decided to use the Obama mask “in a good way” as they pique the public’s curiosity.
Duterte mask, too
“We’ve been getting many requests to produce Obama masks. So I
thought, there’s no problem with that. We use the people’s curiosity to
relay our objective of teaching them crime prevention tips,” Cruz said
in an interview with Inquirer.net on Friday.
Cruz, who led the distribution of masks at different establishments
and train stations in Quezon City on Thursday, said there was also a
mask of President Duterte but this was worn by only one of the cops in
the group.
Asked how the people reacted upon receiving the spooky masks, Cruz
said he was glad none of the masks went straight to the trash.
“They just throw away flyers. So now, they keep the masks, they bring
them home and give them to their children. We don’t want our project to
go to waste. We will implement projects that will catch the people’s
attention,” he said.
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