New PNP chief on improving police credibility: We need Church leaders’ help
Newly installed Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. (File) Photo courtesy of Police Regional Office 1/Facebook Page
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will seek the help of Church leaders to boost the credibility of the police in the eyes of the public.
The newly installed PNP chief, Police Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., said this during a press briefing on Wednesday, where he also pointed out a problem in the reputation of police in Metro Manila.
“We need the help of the Church leaders,” he told reporters at Camp Crame in Quezon City. “Aminin natin na mababa ang kredibilidad ng pulis dito sa Metro Manila. Na kapag ikaw, sinabi mo na iyong pulis gusto niya magbago, walang maniniwala riyan.”
(Let’s admit, the credibility of police in Metro Manila is very low. If the police tells you they want to change, no one will believe it.)
Azurin then noted that Church leaders can help the PNP echo their programs to regain the public’s trust in the police.
“That’s why we need to engage the Church leaders, so that sila ngayon ang taga-convey na ‘O, may programa pala ang pulis dito. Gusto nila magbago, tulungan kaya natin.’ Parang through the Church leaders, they are giving assurance,” he added.
(That’s why we need to engage the Church leaders, so they’ll help convey our programs and willingness to change. We can give the public assurance through the Church leaders.)
Azurin stressed that the PNP should also go beyond its “internal cleansing program” by launching information drives and engaging with other sectors as well.
He cited a program employed by one of his predecessors, former PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar, which observes the broken windows theory, stating that small problems must be solved promptly before they get worse.
“Dapat kahit tsismis, nalalaman natin sino ba iyong mga pasaway na pulis. If we go back doon sa programa ni chief PNP Eleazar, iyong broken windows [theory], maliit pa lang, dapat nalalaman na natin through the feedback ng community so immediately, we can address iyong mga personnel natin,” the top cop noted.
(Regardless of whether it’s a rumor, we need to know which police officers are prone to misconduct. Let’s go back to the program of PNP chief Eleazar, based on the broken windows theory. We should immediately address even the smallest problems with our personnel by getting feedback from our communities.)
Azurin said he had instructed all commanders to exercise their disciplinary authority over police officers to augment further the plan to boost the PNP’s credibility.
“[Kung] hindi mo madisiplina, you cannot impose discipline upon them, I think we have to relieve the entire station and replace them,” he said.
(If they cannot impose discipline upon their police officers, I think we have to relieve the entire station and replace them.)
Azurin, who previously served as the Northern Luzon Police Area commander, was designated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take the helm at the PNP.
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