Efficiency key to fighting crime

There will be fewer crime incidents this year if the chiefs of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will carry out their plans  to the letter.

A more professional, disciplined and committed Philippine National Police (PNP) is what recently installed PNP chief Alan La Madrid Purisima says he will strive for this year.

To achieve professionalism and competence, Purisima says policemen will have to  undergo a series of training and refresher courses.

The training and seminars are on criminal investigation, tactical motorcycle riding, scout ranger duties, special weapons and tactics and handgun proficiency, among others.

Each policeman will be made to realize that discipline and efficiency start with himself, says Purisima.

“My IP (Individual Performance) is the Key” is the slogan of each cop this year.

“(The slogan) is both an internal campaign and a system that aims to extract the best from the police officer on a 24/7 (24 hours, 7 days a week) basis. It will instill in police personnel pride in their craftsmanship,” says Purisima.

* * *

NBI Director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas was brief when I asked him to summarize in a few words his plan for the bureau this year:

“Efficiency, efficiency and more efficiency.”

Elaborating, Rojas said, “Coupled with integrity and prayers, the NBI will be dynamic in responding to the demands of the times to address the growing sophistication and almost unlimited resources of criminal syndicates.”

“Agents and personnel,” he said, “will undergo continuous training and be properly equipped to deal with victims and criminals alike, and be sympathetic and humane to those in need of assistance, especially the poor and the helpless.”

* * *

Alfredo Almueda, the environment official in Quirino province who was murdered on Jan. 1, fought a lonely battle against illegal loggers.

He had complained that the regional state prosecutor, Rommel Balingod, dismissed illegal logging cases.

Balingod should be investigated.

Illegal loggers are feared by the local populace, the reason why citizens don’t complain. Those who do are silenced.

Jesse Camanguian, a radio commentator in Davao Oriental who assailed illegal logging in the province, was shot dead in Manay town three years ago.

Manay is the hometown of one of those I named in this space as reportedly involved in illegal logging in the mountains of Baganga and Cateel.

* * *

I grieve over the death of Cris Cabrera, wife of one of my closest friends, retired police Brig. Gen. Narciso Cabrera, former chief of the Western Police District (WPD), now the Manila Police District.

I was covering the WPD when I came to know Cris who, unlike other officers’ wives, never interfered in the work of her husband.

She was seldom seen in General Cabrera’s office and just attended to their children, now all professionals.

Cris will be interred at the Manila North Cemetery on Jan. 8.

Her remains lie at  Arlington Funeral Homes in Quezon City.