Marcos: PNP needs plan to improve communications capability

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to improve its communications.

In a command conference in Camp Crame, Marcos held a command conference with PNP leaders.

“We really need to come up with a plan to improve the communications capability of PNP. You cannot do your job without being able to communicate because mag-aantay kayo ng instructions, magre-report kayo sa central office, et cetera (you need to wait for instructions, you need to report to the central office),” Marcos said in the meeting.

Marcos said it was important to be more strategic with the procurement of communications equipment, especially in the face of emergencies.

“We have to be able to communicate to each other, lalung-lalo na dito sa mga disaster response. Kailangan alam natin kung ano ‘yung situation on the ground. Kailangan ‘yung nandoon na pulis, makapag-report kaagad na may nangyari, ganito yung situation, ito yung kailangan namin,” he said.

(We have to be able to communicate with each other, especially in a disaster response. We need to know the situation on the ground. The police need to be there so that situations can be reported; this is what we need.)

Marcos instructed PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. to create a plan to improve the police’s communications.

The Palace said that the PNP has yet to fill up half of its communications equipment.

“The advantage that we have is that technology is getting cheaper. Satellite phones are getting cheaper. All kinds of communications equipment are getting better,” Marcos said.

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