The country’s top cop boasted of the Philippine National Police’s gains in its anticriminality drive as he urged its 160,000 personnel to reaffirm their commitment to service, honor and justice.
However, PNP chief Director Gen. Ricardo Marquez did not mention the heroism of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers killed in a top secret operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, last January.
In his speech at the PNP’s 114th police service anniversary in Camp Crame on Friday, Marquez enumerated the PNP’s accomplishments in fighting crime and securing high-profile events this year.
At the same time, he exhorted his fellow law enforcers to renew their commitment to the ideals of service, honor and justice, as well as the organization’s transformation into a better one.
Exodus excluded
The PNP chief made no direct reference to Oplan Exodus, the SAF’s operation to arrest two wanted terrorists, or the heroism of the slain elite commandos and the survivors of the botched operation.
“Let us walk along the footprints of our heroes who willingly gave all they could for freedom, for peace, and for progress. Let us prove that the PNP is not lacking in heroes who will defend our freedom and peace,” Marquez said.
He, however, cited the PNP’s achievements in its anticriminality drive, particularly against illegal drugs and loose firearms.
Since the implementation of Oplan Lambat Sibat, crime incidents in Metro Manila have dropped by 60 percent from a weekly average of 919 last year to 340 incidents per week in recent months.
During the first half of 2015, some 17,318 criminals were arrested, crippling the operations of 33 criminal gangs and organized crime groups, Marquez said.
Street cops
He assured that the PNP was deploying more policemen to the streets, saying police presence remains the best deterrent against crime.
Meanwhile, 3,896 loose firearms were seized while 4,047 were arrested for violation of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms Law.
Marquez added that in the antinarcotics campaign, the PNP has conducted 12,079 anti-illegal drug operations in the past six months alone.
This resulted in the arrest of 19,041 drug offenders, the filing of 16,000 court cases and the seizure of P1.5 billion worth of illegal drugs.
The PNP chief added that the organization was into “deep preparations” for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in November as part of the National Joint Task Force.
“We are committed to provide not only forces and resources but also leadership and experience to this endeavor,” Marquez said, citing the “whole of government approach” in addressing security, peace and order, and emergency preparedness.