PNP to introduce electronic blotter

MANILA, Philippines - The huge maroon police blotter usually found on the desk of police officers will soon be replaced with computers to implement the electronic tamper-proof police blotter or e-blotter system, said top officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Director Magtanggol Gatdula, chief of the PNP Directorate for Information and Communication Technology Management (DICTM), said the PNP is planning to introduce the use of electronic blotter system, tamper proof police clearance and other computer-based operations to help the police fast track the gathering of crime statistics from different police stations and data sharing among police units.

The DICTM chief introduced the e-blotter system to the public during the 1st anniversary celebration of the PNP DICTM, which was tasked to come up with data communication infrastructure and set up the environment for the development of information and communication technology for an “ePNP.”

Gatdula said the e-blotter system is created to empower the PNP with modern technology to efficiently collect crime-related data necessary to maintain peace and justice in their jurisdiction.

Unlike the manual police blotter, which can easily be tampered with or destroyed, Gatdula said the e-blotter is protected by password, meaning any changes should be confirmed by a ranking police official using the password.

Retrieval of information is also simplified, as a police officer would only type in a keyword like the name of the victim, suspect or complainant.

He added the system will interconnect all the precincts in the country to facilitate crime mapping and permit an efficient deployment of police in those areas identified to have higher crime rates.