PNP on high-profile killings: ‘Not alarming… still manageable’

Enzo Pastor

MANILA, Philippines—Following the statement of Malacañang saying President Benigno Aquino III is alarmed over the recent spate of high-profile killings, the Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to “review, revisit and change” its operation systems and procedures.

“It’s not that alarming… It’s still manageable but it’s a cause of study,” Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office chief, said in a press briefing.

Hotel chain owner Richard King and race car driver Enzo Pastor were gunned down in separate incidents in Davao City and Quezon City, respectively, on Independence Day. Five days earlier, gunmen killed a Pangasinan town mayor on the eve of his wedding anniversary.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the PNP had been barraged by questions on how the agencies would address the increasing number of murders and the seemingly flagging  crime prevention efforts.

“We have to revisit our operational procedures and change our system to address concerns in different areas because the culture in each varies and has its own peculiarities,” Sindac pointed out.

“Hindi naman pwedeng isang solusyon lang. Dapat maghanap ng solusyon sa mga bagong problemang umuusbong sa kanilang lugar,” he added.

He said the crime rate remained steady compared to last year but the police assured that they would set up checkpoints 24/7 to avoid, if not completely eradicate, crimes.

“It just happened that these people are popular but in any case, one death is one too many, one killing is one too many,” Sindac pointed out.

Earlier on Monday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said “all crimes that take place in our country have to be solved. All steps should be taken by the national police and [other] law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of our people and give them peace of mind.”

Coloma said Aquino is “hands-on” when it comes to crime and police matters. He said the President would call up a particular police officer to ask about an incident report and make sure the case is being handled properly.

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