Napolcom’s summit tackles assessment on crime situation

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities from law enforcement, prosecution, courts and community participated in a National Police Commission’s (Napolcom) National Summit on Crime prevention to tackle their plans to address and evaluate the crime situation in the Philippines.

In a statement on Thursday, Lawyer Rogelio, Napolcom vice chairman, said the summit will also help monitor the implementation of government projects and strategies that would address drug abuse, corruption and criminality in the country.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said the challenges of the police force in its anti-drug campaign is the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by criminals.

“Much has been gained in the fight of illegal drugs through the relentless campaign of PNP against criminals. It is an emerging trend the criminals have started the use of ICT in the commission of their nefarious acts,” Albayalde said in his speech during the National Summit on Crime Prevention at the Manila Hotel.

Albayalde cited that crimes involving technology such as cyber-attacks and data fraud were ranked as third and fourth global risks.

To counter these crimes, the PNP maximized its efforts to curb crime and corruption by implementing advanced technology in its policing performance.

“In order to sustain if not significantly decrease crime and corruption, it is paramount that the PNP is able to maximize all opportunities that can be derived from the emerging development in its operating environment advancement… PNP [should] maximize the use of advanced ICT to better its policing performance,” Albayalde said.