Public Trust and Police Legitimacy: Community Perception of Law Enforcement Practices in Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

This study examined public trust and perceived police legitimacy among residents of Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City, and identified key policing factors influencing these perceptions. A total of 400 respondents participated in the study using a validated questionnaire with high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.814–0.883). Results revealed very high levels of public trust (M = 4.70, SD = 0.30) and police legitimacy (M = 4.71, SD = 0.39), consistently observed across demographic groups. Pearson correlation analysis indicated a significant strong positive relationship between trust and legitimacy (r = 0.62, p < .01). Multiple regression analysis further revealed that professionalism and behavior were the strongest predictors of both public trust and legitimacy, followed by police visibility and crime prevention. The models explained 43% and 55% of the variance, respectively. Findings highlight that ethical conduct, fairness, visibility, and community engagement are critical determinants of effective policing. The study reinforces procedural justice theory, emphasizing that legitimacy is built not only through law enforcement outcomes but through respectful and transparent police-community interactions.

Public trust, police legitimacy, procedural justice, police practices, Bacolod City

1. Basco Galangco, R., & Chinayo, A. (2022). Public trust and police performance in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Criminology, 45(1), 45–60. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Hough, M., & Jackson, J. (2007). Policing and the social contract. In T. R. Tyler (Ed.), Legitimacy and criminal justice. Russell Sage Foundation. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Jackson, J., Bradford, B., Stanko, E., & Hohl, K. (2012). Just authority? Trust in the police in England and Wales. Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Mazerolle, L., Bennett, S., Davis, J., Sargeant, E., & Manning, M. (2014). Procedural justice and police legitimacy. Springer. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Philippine National Police. (2010). PNP P.A.T.R.O.L. Plan 2030. Philippine National Police. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Republic of the Philippines. (1990). Republic Act No. 6975: Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Republic of the Philippines. (1998). Republic Act No. 8551: Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Sunshine, J., & Tyler, T. R. (2003). The role of procedural justice and legitimacy in shaping public support for policing. Law & Society Review, 37(3), 513–548. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-5893.3703002 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Tyler, T. R. (2006). Why people obey the law (2nd ed.). Princeton University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Information and Communication Technology Skills and Study Habits As Determinants of Everyday Digital Literacy
• A Review on Siddha Management of Hair Fall Using Quail Bone Ash and Sesame Oil
• Transformational Leadership of School Heads and Teachers in Parental Engagement Practices
• Digital Literacy as a Foundation for Remote Work Readiness in Africa: A Systematic Review
• The TOEthical Model: Deconstructing the Technological, Organizational, and Ethical Determinants of Generative AI Adoption in Kenyan University Research Ecosystems