PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima urges police units to let the public know of the "real crime statistics" in their areas of their responsibility.
In a media briefing held in Camp Crame last Thursday, Purisima said police units are mandated to adhere to the PNP's policy of transparency by making crime statistics available to the public.
"'Yung crime statistics ng bawat lugar, dapat nakapost na yan sa bawat police station, sa bulletin board at the same time i-aattach sa record ng bawat official ng station so hindi na pwede na makakalimutan kung ano ang nangyari. In that way ang performance ang batayan for promotion, demotion, replacement," Purisima said.
He said accurate reporting and recording of crime statistics will help the PNP identify areas for improvement in the operational procedure.
The Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) monitors and records the weekly crime statistics of each police station all over the country, he said.
"Patuloy ang pag-audit ng DIDM nang sa ganun walang under reporting at fixing ng records, malalaman kung yung time niya (PNP officer) doon sa police station kung tumaas o bumaba ang criminality," he said.
Earlier, Purisima warned the PNP personnel to "shape up" in the wake of recent high profile murders in different parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Friday said that he directed the local chief executives, especially the barangays leaders, to strengthen, energize and fully activate their respective Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams (BPAT) to assist the local police in its anti-criminality efforts down to barangay level.
Roxas said aside from directing the national police agency to double their efforts against the worsening criminality in the country, he also tapped all the officials in the barangay level to support the implementation of crime prevention programs by reporting potential peace and order problems to the higher authorities.
"Natutuwa ako na ang mga miyembro ng BPATS na binubuo nga mga volunteers na ngayon ay umaabot na sa 504,000 mula sa 38,254 na mga barangays ay nakiisa sa DILG para sa kampanya laban sa kriminalidad. Malaking tulong ang maibibigay nila para sugpuin ang mga kaso ng krimen," he said.
"Kailangan namin ang tulong ninyo para masugpo ang mga krimen," he added.
The BPAT, which was composed of community members, was launched by the DILG in 2009. Its main goal is to organize and mobilize various sectors of the community to act as force multipliers in the maintenance of peace and order and public safety.
Roxas, citing the success implementation story in Barangay Sta. Rita in Olongapo City, said that BPAT has already proven its effectivity registering a decline or even zero-crime rate where it has been established.
He said a significant decrease in crime rate in Barangay Sta. Rita could be attributed to the "untiring cooperation of the community and the significant accomplishments achieved by BPAT in the barangay."
As chairpersons of the Local Peace and Order Councils, provincial governors, city and municipal mayors and barangays captains should exert more efforts to encourage greater citizen participation and involvement in crime prevention programs and activities, he said.
"Tinatawagan ko ang mga lokal na opisyales ng pamahalaan, mga gobernador, mayor, at mga punong barangay suportahan ang BPAT para paigtingin ang kanilang kampanya sa pagsugpo ng krimen at hikayatin ang kanilang mga mamamayan na makipagtulungan sa pamahalaan sa paglaban sa krimen sa kani-kanilang mga lugar," Roxas said.
Also, Roxas directed the PNP to step up its campaign against criminal elements by deploying more policemen to patrol in communities and by working closely with the barangays. (Sunnex)