Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac. NOY MORCOSO lll/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine National Police (PNP) admitted a spike in crime rates in the country, but a police spokesperson explained that this was because “crime reporting has become more efficient.”
Speaking to reporters, Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said the police has intensified its crime reporting.
“Tumaas ang krimen dahil inaayos namin ang reporting (Crime (rate) has been rising because we have been fortifying the reporting)” he said in response to reports of “crime wave” in the country.
“Crime statistics is simply a tool to guide us,” he added.
According to him, crime rates in a certain area will no longer be the basis for promotion or demotion of a police official.
In this manner, police would no longer be hesitant in reporting “factual and actual” police blotters, he said.
He said crime statistics would just be a tool to manage a particular area to identify what resources need to be poured in.
He mentioned that “public perception” is the gauge of how peaceful a certain community is.
He said based on crime statistics, police would suggest ways to address the spike in crime rates.
However, if the suggestions made by certain police officials would not create a positive outcome to stop the rise in crimes, the PNP would take necessary actions to investigate the police officials.
He encouraged the public and the local government to participate in crime reporting to intensify the PNP’s campaign against crimes.
In 2013, a total of 1,033,833 crimes were reported.
This year, a total of 289,198 crimes were reported from January to May, compared to 245,347 related on the same time in 2013.
Sindac, however, said crime solution efficiency has increased to 36.50 percent from January to May this year, compared to the 26.77 percent from the same time last year.
Crime solution efficiency involves the identification, arrest, and conviction of the suspects tagged the offense.
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