The Philippine National Police in Oriental Mindoro has launched its Mangyan Desk in a bid to address the special protection needs of the province’s indigenous people.

The Mangyan Desk was formally opened on August 17 at provincial police headquarters at Camp Efigenio Navarro in Calapan City.

Provincial Police Director Senior Superintendent  Anthony Alcañeses said the creation of the special desk is also the PNP’s  way of combatting criminalities in tribal communities and assuring them of peace and security as a way of preserving their ethnic culture.

The desk will exclusively cater to cases—from petty crimes to high profile criminal cases—involving the Mangyans.

Police Senior Inspector Socrates E. Faltado, head of the Oriental Mindoro PNP community relations, said they were eyeing Mangyan PNP members to man the desk.

Ponyong Kadlos, chairman of the eight Mangyan tribes’ indigenous group Kapulungan Para sa Lupang Ninuno (KPLN), hailed the formation of Mangyan Desk.

Also present during the launch were Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso V. Umali Jr., National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Regional Director Karen Ignacio, Bishop Warlito I. Cajandig of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan, and some Mangyan tribe leaders and representatives.