PNP chief vows to intensify anti-crime efforts

MANILA, Philippines — After a recent survey showed that the Philippines is the third safest country in Southeast Asia, the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday vowed to intensify anti-criminality operations and strengthen partnerships with communities.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. made the statement when asked about the findings of Washington-based analytics and advisory firm Gallup in its 2023 Global Law and Order Report.

Gallup said the Philippines ranks third among the safest countries in Southeast Asia with an index score of 86 behind Vietnam (92) and Indonesia (90).

Acorda said Gallup’s report will definitely boost the country’s standing in the international community, which would bring more investors and tourists.

He said the report will also serve as a guide for them to continue with their mission to keep communities safe.

He has ordered police officers to intensify law enforcement operations, especially against drugs and cybercrime.

Data from the PNP showed an 8.44 percent drop in crimes in 2023 or 38,230 incidents from the 41,755 cases in 2022.

The country’s good standing in the region, Acorda said, is not only attributed to the PNP but through the efforts of law enforcement agencies and the public.

Destabilization

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) again assured the public yesterday that despite supposed talks of destabilization and coup in social media, there is no credible threat to the stability of the country.

“And if ever there are some individuals who would try to destabilize our country, they will fail,” AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar told CNN Philippines’ “Politics as Usual” on Wednesday.

He said troops have high morale “and we are focused… because the AFP has very important missions right now, that is to end local communist insurgency, defeat local terrorist groups and defend the West Philippine Sea.”

Aguilar again emphasized that soldiers are focused on the tasks assigned to them and that so-called destabilization talks through vlogs or online videos by retired military officials are just the opinions of now private individuals who are entitled to their own opinions.

Retired Lt. Col. Red Kapunan, a RAM leader who bore witness to coup attempts during the administration of former president Corazon Aguino, said that in the 1986 coup, there was no noise and all was quiet until the day it happened.

“So with what is happening now, where so much talk is being done, so much noise being done, my tendency is not to believe it,” he said, adding that vloggers appear to be only trying to gain viewership.

Aguilar reiterated that in a democratic country, retired military officials have freedom of expression and opinion and the AFP respects that.

He said there is no need to worry and gave assurance that the AFP is a professional organization and “we only follow orders from duly constituted authority.” – Michael Punongbayan