ASSESSMENT ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF ANTI-CRIME TASK OFFICERS IN BARANGAY MARULAS, VALENZUELA CITY

Abstract

The article examines the insufficient assessment of the Anti-Crime Task Officers (ACTO) in Barangay Marulas, who are integral to community policing, law enforcement, and disaster risk management. The study highlights operational challenges and evaluates the impact of recent changes by reviewing ACTO deployment strategies, training methods, and resource-sharing practices in the area. The study adopted a descriptive research method to evaluate the progress and effectiveness of ACTO and other anti-crime organizations over the years. The respondents were divided into two groups: the first group included twenty (20) residents of Barangay Marulas, while the second group consisted of twenty (20) ACTO officers, totaling forty (40) participants. Data were gathered using a structured survey questionnaire. The data gathered shows that most respondents were between 18-25 years old, making up 37.5% of the total. The majority of the respondents were male, comprising 65% of the sample, and 40% had resided in Barangay Marulas for 4-5 years. The respondents' assessments revealed that patrols and checkpoints were generally well-implemented, with a mean score of 3.1, indicating "Agree." Additionally, respondents expressed strong approval of ACTO's response to calamities, giving it a mean rating of 3.43, which corresponds to "Strongly Agree." Furthermore, ACTO's use and upkeep of communication tools such as radios and megaphones were highly regarded, earning a mean rating of 3.65, also categorized as "Strongly Agree." The study on the Anti-Crime Task Officers (ACTO) in Barangay Marulas demonstrated that ACTO received high ratings for their patrols, checkpoints, and emergency responses, particularly from the youth and male respondents. This positive perception supports existing research that suggests effective community policing can significantly boost public trust and feelings of safety. For future studies, expanding the sample size would provide a more representative view of community attitudes toward safety programs. Moreover, longitudinal studies could further examine the long-term effectiveness of ACTO’s methods.