Aquino: PNP is much better now than before

HIROSHIMA – President Aquino said Tuesday the Philippine National Police (PNP) is much better than before as it has already solved numerous cases that media might have overlooked.

During an interview on board his chartered Philippine Airlines flight PR 001 from Tokyo, the President cited the cases of murdered Urbiztondo, Pangasinan Mayor Ernesto Balolong, businessman Richard King and racecar driver Enzo Pastor as examples.

Unlike before, where policemen could not identify much less locate the gunmen, there was also the recurring problem of eyewitnesses being afraid to testify in court, thus letting the cases go cold.

“So that is already a significant change. I think I’d like to credit the police for, one, capturing them and for, two, convincing these witnesses to say what they know as opposed to the others who are afraid to talk,” Aquino said.

“The PNP seem to have developed a very good case. So it is already considered solved – solved in the sense that we know who should be held responsible,” he said.

The PNP is currently processing the possible deployment of about 15,000 policemen who previously held clerical jobs for the purpose of boosting increased police visibility in communities all over the country.

“We will deploy them so as to add more warm bodies patrolling the streets. We will replace them with civilians who will do the clerical functions of the police force,” Aquino said.

Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon rejected the proposal to remove the Witness Protection Program (WPP) from the Department of Justice.

Drilon, a former justice secretary, stressed the WPP is part of the agency’s mandate as the government’s primary prosecution arm to search for witnesses and ensure their safety to aid the effective disposition of justice.

Drilon also aired his support for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima who sought to retain jurisdiction over the WPP under the DOJ while opposing House Bill No. 4583 seeking to transfer administration of WPP to lower courts.

Drilon said he fully understands the need for the DOJ to retain control of the WPP.

“It is the duty of the DOJ being the lead prosecutor to gather credible witnesses who have knowledge about the crimes committed,” Drilon said.

“But to persuade a witness to speak out is not an easy task. It is where the WPP plays an important role because it is being used by prosecutors to convince a witness to testify against a criminal offender,” he added.

Drilon pointed out the WPP is a factor in convincing potential witnesses to cooperate with the DOJ in its duty to prosecute criminal offenders and provide justice.

“It is also therefore the obligation of the DOJ to give 24-hour protection to the lives of state witnesses and provide for their needs while they are in government’s custody,” he added.

He said there are standards the DOJ follows to enroll a witness into WPP and “politics is definitely not a consideration.”

“The primary considerations are the relevance of the testimony and the threat to the life of the state witness. Politics does not and should not play any role in determining who qualifies as state witness,” he stressed.

During his stint as justice secretary, Drilon said the WPP became effective in the conviction of then Calauan mayor Antonio Sanchez.

Drilon said the WPP has been an effective government mechanism for the administration of justice in the country  – With Christina Mendez