PNP eyes to beef up equipment, restore integrity

Officials of the Philippine National Police attend the Senate hearing on PNP modernization. YUJI VINCENT GONZALES/INQUIRER.net

The leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday appeared before the Senate to divulge its plans to beef up its equipment and facilities to improve its competence in beating criminality in the country and to fully restore its integrity.

During the Senate hearing on PNP modernization and reorganization, Senator Grace Poe said it is important to complement members of the police force what they justly deserve in order to perform their functions efficiently.

“Gaano man katapang ang ating kapulisan, kung walang makain, kung hindi makatulog nang maayos sa tinitirahan, kung walang pang-gasolina, kung walang pantawag ng backup, bumababa ang kalidad ng pagsisilbi ng isang pulis at mas na-e-engganyo silang gumawa ng kalokohan,” said Poe, head of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.

(No matter how courageous are police are, if they do not have anything to eat, if they are not able to sleep in a decent home, if they do not have gas money, if they do not have the device to call for backup, their quality of service as police deteriorates and they are more compelled to go rogue.)

“Lahat po ng mga bagay na ito ay binababa ang sigla ng isang mamang pulis sa oras ng isang engkwentro o linya ng pagtatrabaho,” she added.

(All these challenges lower the morale of cops especially during an encounter or while on the line of duty.)

But Poe, who lauded the appointment of new PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez, said modernization would only be the first step to restore the integrity of the PNP.

READ: Marquez named as new PNP chief | Marquez officially assumes post as PNP chief

“Para sa isang mas makabuluhang PNP modernization and reorganization, kailangan nating tignan ang pangangailangan ng PNP bilang institusyon at higit sa lahat kailangan nating tignan ang dignidad at katauhan ng lahat ng nagsusuot ng uniporme,” she said.

(For a more meaningful PNP modernization and reorganization, we need to look at the needs of the PNP as an institution and the dignity and personhood of the personnel wearing uniforms.)

Echoing Poe, Dr. Ricardo De Leon, president of the Philippine Public Safety College, said modernization is not only about advanced facilities, but also an improved way of thinking.

“When we talk about modernization it is not only about the structure but modernizing the mindset of our police officers,” he said.

Marquez, meanwhile, highlighted the importance of increased police visibility for the PNP to fully regain the trust of the public.

“Dapat ang police wala sa stations; nasa lansangan at kakatok sa bahay ng complainants at witnesses,” he said.

(Police personnel should not be staying in stations; they should be on the streets and knocking on the doors of complainants and witnesses.)

PNP wishlist

While saying that that PNP has a technical working group that determines what equipment to buy based on their needs on the ground, Marquez said they need their own “procurement service” to speed up the purchasing of facilities.

“Our bids and awards committee also performs other tasks. [We propose] to create a procurement service para hindi namin kailangang irequest ang (so we no longer need to request the help of the) Department of Budget and Management, so that each police station ay ‘di magkakaselosan (will not be envious),” he said.

Supporting Marquez, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito expressed confidence that more than anyone else, the police officers themselves know what their institution needs, but emphasized that they should purchase durable equipment that should be “put into good use and maximized.”

“You know what your needs are, kung ano ang specifications kung ano ang kailangan niyo. Mas maganda kung sila mismo ang pipili at sila mismo ang magproseso nito (you know the specifactions and your needs. It will be better if you will be the ones to choose and process the purchase of (these equipment).),” said Ejercito.

Marquez added that PNP is about to buy additional pistols worth P600 million for its new recruits who do not have firearms yet.

Ejercito also expressed concern that PNP does not have its own helicopters, saying that it is a “necessity” for the police to have an “eye in the sky.”

But Marquez said “the matter has not escaped the eyes of planners,” adding that they are already eyeing to purchase medium-sized transport aircraft especially intended for disaster response.

The PNP chief also proposed to equip policemen’s radios and vehicles with Global Positioning System (GPS) for easier tracking and navigation.

Marquez said the police force also needs additional funds to construct more police stations across the country, noting that around 800 of 1,766 police stations are squatting on government offices.

“It’s very refreshing to hear your plans for PNP. This is exactly what we need for a PNP chief. To have a vision for this institution,” said Poe. IDL