Metro cops given 1 month to bring down crime rate

MANILA, Philippines - Metro Manila’s 38 police station commanders have been given one month, starting June 19, to reduce the crime rate in their respective jurisdictions.

In a command conference last Thursday, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Carmelo Valmoria warned the station commanders that they will be removed from their post if they fail. He said he will evaluate their performance in July.

“Once they fail to accomplish the parameters I’ve given them, they will be replaced by hard-working police officials,” Valmoria said in an interview yesterday.

Valmoria directed police commanders to relentlessly recover stolen motorcycles and loose firearms, the primary tools of motorcycle-riding criminals.

He also ordered them to religiously serve arrest warrants, update their “e-rogue” files of wanted criminals and secure convictions in court.

Example set

Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas Jr. directed the NCRPO to intensify the campaign against stolen motorcycles and loose firearms, which was implemented by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) last April and proven a success.

“Our records showed that at least 900 crimes happened in the QCPD area in a month. But after we confiscated a big number of motorcycles and loose firearms, the number of crimes was reduced by 300 or one-third of the figure a month earlier,” Rojas said in an interview.

Valmoria said he will double the number of checkpoints in Metro Manila from 38 to 76 in the next few days in a bid to reduce crimes, especially the spate of killings perpetrated by motorcycle-riding assailants.

He said they are “realigning” their forces “to see where we could get the personnel who would man the additional checkpoints.” 

‘Unacceptable’ crime, solution rate

Earlier, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. denied reports that the crime rate has been increasing. He said that based on the report of the Philippine Statistical Authority and Senate Economic Planning Office, the crime rate – he did not specify a figure – has been dropping since 2010 and the solution rate has improved from 13 percent to 37 percent.

However, he said the figure remains “unacceptable” as it means only one out of three crimes is being solved.

 â€œThere should be no unsolved crimes because any unsolved crime is a blight on society and it poses a threat to the safety and lives of our people,” Coloma said.

‘Right figures’

Valmoria admitted that the crime rate from January to May this year showed a rising trend but he explained that it is because police commanders are now reporting the “right figures.”

He said policemen manning checkpoints should be in complete police uniforms and led by a ranking official, and marked PNP vehicles should be seen.

“The policemen manning checkpoints should exercise to the utmost the PNP’s standard operating procedure to prevent complaints from motorists and the riding public,” he said.