Senators call for PNP reforms over Metro heists

MANILA, Philippines - Senators condemned yesterday a series of robberies in Metro Manila and called for reforms in the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its apparent inability to act on these incidents.

Senate Majority leader Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Francis Pangilinan have joined Senators Ralph Recto and Miriam Defensor-Santiago in raising the alarm over robbers preying on balikbayans arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, breaking into homes and committing petty crimes in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Pangilinan pushed for more reforms at the PNP, led by Director General Raul Bacalzo, and other key law enforcement agencies to make them at par with the elite law enforcement groups in other countries.

 “Until the system of justice and law enforcement is reformed to ensure that the guilty are punished swiftly, crime and the disregard for the rule of law will remain rampant. The culture of impunity can only be addressed squarely by reforming the antiquated, ill-equipped and financially-constrained justice system,” he said.

As for allegations that Bacalzo is a lame duck PNP chief – some groups say his appointment was a political accommodation – Sotto said the choice of PNP chief remains the President’s prerogative and “therefore the buck stops with” President Aquino.

Aquino appointed Bacalzo last Sept. 15, exactly a year before his retirement from the police force.

Recto has also called on authorities to step up the campaign against crime. He said the everyday onslaught of crimes – both petty and organized – is the more dangerous “terror threat” that the Philippines will have to address to get the respect of other nations.

“Petty crimes are on the rise, so do the organized ones. It seems everyone we know has a relative or a friend who has fallen victims to petty thieves from cell phone snatching to random break-ins,” he said.

Miriam seeks inquiry into ATM thefts

Santiago has filed Resolution 257 last Nov. 10, directing the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs and other appropriate committees to conduct an inquiry into thefts involving automated teller machines (ATMs).

She expressed alarm over reports that at least five persons are allegedly victimized daily by robbers preying on bank clients withdrawing cash from ATMs in Manila.

While there were reports that two members of the alleged syndicate were arrested by police officers on patrol recently, Santiago said the tampering of ATMs have been costing banks millions of pesos in repair bills.

The modus operandi is to tamper the ATM units to trap money in the cash dispenser slot. The thieves would wait for a victim near the ATM booth, watch as the victim withdraws money, then collect the money trapped in the unit once the victim leaves, thinking the electronic transaction was botched.

Police also learned that the syndicate had already tampered with several ATMs in Binondo, Malabon, Quezon City and eastern Metro Manila and that such thefts have compelled Siemens Corp., the distributor of ATMs in most banks, to upgrade their machines to make them tamper-proof.

“Since most banks do not refund stolen withdrawals covered by transaction receipts, ultimately, hapless and unknowing victims suffer the brunt of these nefarious activities in this time of economic crisis,” Santiago said.