PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lauded on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) 5-minute Response Time Strategy, the brainchild of PNP chief General Nicolas Torre.
In his address during the 124th Police Service Anniversary Celebration held in Camp Crame in Quezon City, Marcos expressed confidence that the PNP is “now on its right track,” as he reiterated that public safety is not about numbers but about the public’s feeling of safety.
“Even according to the data, the crime incidents from June 2024 to June 2025 have decreased compared [to] the preceding period. But we recognize that numbers alone cannot allay the fears of our people. As public servants, we do not ask people to celebrate statistics if their experiences tell a different story. And that is why we must regain the trust of the public through more decisive and responsive actions,” said Marcos.
“Five minutes -- just a relatively small window of time -- but five minutes can mean the difference between safety and danger; even between life and death. Through the revitalized Emergency 911 Hotline, the PNP responded to thousands of emergency calls, from police assistance to police interventions and even search and rescue,” he added.
Before the ceremony, Marcos, along with Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, dropped by the PNP Command Center for the 5-minute response policy and 911 hotline briefing and demonstration led by Torre.
Remulla first directed Torre to instruct his men to go to Trece Martires Cavite Mayor Gemma Lubigan.
The police first went to the city hall in less than five minutes but they failed to find Lubigan. They then proceeded to the mayor’s house, and it took them two minutes and 41 seconds.
Torre also showed Marcos the efficiency and importance of two-way radios for immediate response in communities.
From August 2024 to June 15, 2025, Torre said over 17.5 million calls were received through the 911 hotline. Of this number, 10.5 million or 60.34 percent have been successfully handled or processed.
Under the 5-minute response policy, which was implemented when Torre took office on June 2 until August 10, of the 3,574 calls that required police assistance, almost 94 percent were compliant to the strategy.
In his speech, Torre urged every police officer and PNP personnel to continue embodying the true spirit of public service.
“Let us be the police force that people not only respect but truly trust. Patuloy natin isapuso at isabuhay ang ating sinumpaang tungkulin, maglingkod ng buong husay at tapat, walang bahid ng katiwalian o pagmamalabis sa kapwa sapagkat sa bawat tapat at mabilis na aksyon ng pulis ay nararamdaman ang tunay na Bagong Pilipinas,” he said.
(Let us be the police force that people not only respect but truly trust. Let us continue to take to heart and live by our sworn duty — to serve with excellence and integrity, without any trace of corruption or abuse toward others — because in every honest and swift action of the police, the true spirit of Bagong Pilipinas is felt.)
Marcos commended the PNP for its continuous effort to regain public trust by ensuring that they will arrive “no matter what time, no matter what the circumstance is.”
He assured his continued support to the PNP’s pursuit of modernization and operational readiness.
Marcos also raised the importance of cleansing among the police ranks.
“We will continue to investigate and hold these people accountable within the bounds of the law. We do not condone wrongdoing among those who sworn to uphold the law and to protect the citizens of our Republic,” he said.
“Inuulit ko: walang lugar ang katiwalian sa ating kapulisan,” he added.
(I repeat: there is no place for corruption in our police force.) (TPM/SunStar Philippines)