PNP Director General Alan Purisima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — This year, the head of the Philippine National Police wants the 150,000-strong force to score a higher conviction rate for criminal cases filed in the courts.
PNP Director General Alan Purisima reminded his field commanders to be truthful in the reporting of crimes in their respective jurisdictions to help the PNP determine the appropriate number of personnel to deploy in crime-prone areas.
“Let us vigorously pursue the investigation and solution of cases. I want to see higher conviction rates and more lawless elements behind bars,” Purisima told senior police officials during the traditional New Year’s Call at Camp Crame on Wednesday.
“With crime, insurgency and terrorism remaining serious threats to the peace and security of communities, let us constantly review our Police Operational Procedures and further strengthen our defenses against lawless elements,” he said.
He urged the police commanders to improve the PNP’s relationship with the community as a vital part of the government’s fight against criminality.
He also thanked them for their successful operations in 2013, a year marked by the alleged involvement of several police officials in two separate “rubout” cases of suspected criminals in Atimonan, Quezon, and San Pedro, Laguna.
Said Purisima: “With our focus centered on continuing transformation, let us work harder towards developing competence among our ranks, achieving organizational reforms, firmly instilling discipline among all personnel, ensuring excellence in our endeavors, and promoting professionalism in the police service.”
Despite the controversies that hounded the police last year, Purisima said the PNP still received a +50 net satisfaction rating in a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations in the last quarter of 2013.
He said the accomplishments of the police force “in pursuit of the PNP’s mission (will) keep us inspired as we continue to give all we can to serve and protect the nation.”
The PNP chief underscored the importance of submitting accurate crime reports to the national headquarters in Camp Crame, which consolidated these into the Unit Crime Periodic Report.
In 2013, a number of senior PNP officers, including a regional police director, were relieved from their posts after they were found to have altered the reports on the crime incidence in their areas.
“I expect more reliable crime data from our police units so that we can better address criminality across the country because the success of our operations depends to a large extent on the information we have,” he said.
Related stories
PNP: Rise in crime due to reporting system, not failure of cops
TV news reports show crime incidence worse
9 cop chiefs hit for reducing crime stats
CRPO reports decline in Metro crime rates