The Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Alan Purisima has been engaging netizens with his personal Twitter account @alanlpurisima.

Officially launched in mid July this year, the account serves as a response to the fast growing social media demands of citizens. Purisima sees Twitter as an opportunity to build stronger ties with the Filipino digital community.

The Philippines is currently ranked 10th globally among users of this social networking site, with an estimated 9.5 million users in 2012.

To-date, Purisima has 3620 followers and has published 112 tweets since 19 July, with his first tweet “Serbisyong Makatotohanan Para Sa Bayan”, which means to provide honest or reliable services to citizens.

While the Twitter account serves as a way to reach the Chief in a more direct and personal manner, the Police reminds the public that it should not be mistaken for @ireportangkrimen, the agency’s official Twitter account where complaints and issues concerning public safety and law enforcement can be aired.

According to Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, Chief of the Public Information Office, the creation of the Chief’s personal Twitter account is also an additional effort to expand ‘Serbisyong Makatotohanan’ even in the digital realm.

The Twitter account is also an added channel where the Chief can further realise his brainchild strategic focus of ‘Competence, Organisational Development, Excellence and Professionalism: C.O.D.E-P 2013 and Beyond’.

“This also manifests the responsiveness of the Philippine National Police to the ever growing need for socially relevant information on matters of public interest,” said Purisima. “As the most prominent symbol of government presence in every nook and cranny of the entire country, the Police finds it imperative to provide more effective ways to link-up with the people through this social network.”