Azurin urges public to avoid pre-judging the PNP

MANILA. Lieutenant General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. (Photo from PRO 1 Facebook page)
MANILA. Lieutenant General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. (Photo from PRO 1 Facebook page)

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Rodolfo Azurin has urged the public to avoid prejudging the national police agency especially under his watch amid criticisms that it is being fainthearted and less aggressive against criminals.

Azurin said the people should see first how the PNP handles the peace and order situation in the country under his leadership, citing their high prioritization to the rule of law.

“We really need to enforce the law, ‘yung procedure, ‘yung proseso kasi mahirap kasi na yun bang ang mindsetting natin kapag nag o-operate tayo ay kailangan ay mamatay, kailangan ay may papatayin tayo... Kapag meron kang hinuli at nabuhay sasabihin nila malamya ang pulis natin. Kapag may namatay naman, sasabihin rubout. So saan po tatayo ang kapulisan doon?” he said.

(We really need to enforce the law, the procedure, the process because it's really difficult if our mindset is ‘someone has to die whenever there’s an operation.’ When you arrest someone and this person lives, people will also say the police are weak. When someone dies, they say rubout. Where will the police stand?)

“Sa dami nang namatay, sa dami na ng pinatay, bakit meron pa rin krimen. Yun ba ay solusyon? Ibig sabihin, there must be a better way to do things and doing our job right is one of the best things na kailangan maipakita natin so that manumbalik ‘yung tiwala ng mamamayan,” he added.

(With so many deaths, with so many killed, why is there still crime? Is that a solution? That is to say, there must be a better way to do things and doing our job right is one of the best things that we need to show so that the people's trust will return.)

Azurin said that “everybody deserves a second” chance, even the hardened criminals.

The police chief earlier said the PNP values the preservation of life and also expressed his belief that they do not have to scare the criminals.

Siding with criminals?

In response, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) Chairman Arsenio Boy Evangelista said Azurin is on the side of criminals instead of the victims.

“Hindi siya pro-victim. Kamukha namin, kami ba nabigyan ng second chance ‘yung mahal namin sa buhay? One is certain, ang mahal namin sa buhay is six feet below the ground, while itong mga kriminal na to ay na enjoy lahat nila lahat ng benefits, the right to get the lawyer, the right to file motion for reconsideration,” he said.

(He is not pro-victim. Have we been given a second chance by the ones we love in life? One [thing] is certain, the love of our life is six feet below the ground, while these criminals enjoy all the benefits, the right to get the lawyer, the right to file motion for reconsideration.)

Evangelista’s son, Venson, a second-hand car dealer, was murdered by kidnappers who pretended to be customers.

Venson’s body was burned and was found in an irrigation canal in Cabanatuan City a day after he went missing after accompanying the suspects for a test drive.

Evangelista said the PNP should address the criminals “strongly.”

With Azurin at the helm of the PNP, Evangelista said criminals will no longer fear doing illegal activities.

He said Azurin should already think about stepping down from the post.

Evangelista said they also do not believe the PNP’s pronouncement that crime incidents in the country went down over the past two months of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Earlier, Former PNP chief Senator Dela Rosa said, “kulang sa asim. Kulang sa arrive ‘yung kapulisan sa ngayon. Para bang kung talagang may arrive, e, dapat takot ang kriminal gumawa ng criminal activities.”

(They lack something. The police nowadays lack “arrive.” If they do have “arrive,” lawbreakers should be scared of doing criminal activities.)

Spike in criminality

Dela Rosa made the statement as he expressed alarm over the reported spike in criminality, particularly the kidnapping cases in the country.

Over the past weeks, several killing incidents happened in various areas across the country. Majority of the victims were either women or children.

Azurin, however, maintained that these cases were either resolved through the arrest of the suspects or are already under investigation.

He said the PNP is continuously working in making the Philippines a safer place to live in line with the order of Marcos. (SunStar Philippines)

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