9 Metro police chiefs questioned on ‘doctored’ crime figures

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police has ordered nine station commanders and chiefs of police under the National Capital Region Police Office to give their explanation on the alleged underreporting of crime incidents in their areas, a PNP official said.

Police Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor, PNP spokesman, made the statement after PNP’s Directorate of Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) found out that records of crime incidents in cities of Pasay, Mandaluyong, Taguig, Paranaque, San Juan, as well as Manila Police District’s Station 4 (Sampaloc), MPD Station 9 (Malate) Quezon City Police District Station 10 (Kamuning), and QCPD Station 7 (Cubao), were incomplete and doctored.

Mayor said the DIDM reported that these police offices didn’t include in their report for January to June 2013 about 60 percent of the supposed total crime volume in their areas.

While station commanders and chiefs of police have been directed to reduce crime rates in their areas, Mayor stressed that “adjusting” figures is not the right way to do it.

“You do something about [it]; you enhance police visibility, solve crimes, [and] prevent crimes, but not tamper statistics,” Mayor said.

A newspaper report quoted DIDM chief Director Don Montenegro as saying that the concerned police officials were Senior Superintendents Rodolfo Llorca of Pasay, Florendo Quibuyen of Mandaluyong, Joselito Daniel of San Juan, Arthur Felix Asis of Taguig and Ariel Andrade of Parañaque.

Also named in the report were Manila Police District Station 4 (Sampaloc) commander Superintendent Santiago Pascual, MPD Station 9 (Malate) commander Superintendent Manam Muarip, Quezon City Police District Station 10 (Kamuning) commander Superintendent Limuel Obon and QCPD Station 7 (Cubao) Superintendent Ramon Pranada.

He said PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima signed a circular on how to report crime statistics.

The purpose of this circular is to ensure the proper distribution of manpower and other resources among police offices.

If some of the concerned police officials would say that they were not yet holding their office during the January to June period, Mayor said they would still be asked to give their explanation in accordance with the due process.

“Being the Chief of Police, kailangang i-check mo din lahat ng papeles bago mo pirmahan. Dapat basahin mo and see to it na lahat ng pinipirmahan ay tama [dahil] kung may [mali] ikaw ang responsible,” Mayor said.

(Being the Chief of Police, you should first read the document before signing it. Because if there are errors on it, you will be the one responsible.)

He said five police officials from Region 2 Police Office were recently relieved of their posts over inaccurate reporting of crime statistics.