‘Local peace councils’ role vs crime crucial’

The war on crime cannot be won by the national government alone.

In a speech yesterday at the Integrated Peace and Order Forum in Balanga, Bataan, Secretary Angelo Reyes of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) cited the vital role played by local peace and order councils in the fight against crime.

Reyes said the active participation of the local councils helped reduce the incidence of crime and maintain peace and order in Bataan.

Reyes said local councils in other parts of the country also helped the national government score in its campaign against drug syndicates, kidnappers, smugglers and even illegal loggers.

"I commend the members of the peace and order councils for being instrumental to the success of our national anti-crime efforts last year," he said.

Reyes described the councils as a "direct link between the government and the people at the grassroots level" and recognized their "critical" role in achieving "peace and progress."

He said the maintenance of peace and order was a factor in the transformation of Bataan into a hub of economic activity in Central Luzon.

Reyes also reported on the successes of the DILG in the campaign against crime.

He said the number of reported crimes fell by 8.4 percent from 77,763 in 2003 to 71,179 cases last year, with the Philippine National Police registering a 90.4 percent crime solution rate.

Reyes said kidnap-for-ransom incidents dropped by 70 percent, with only 28 kidnapping cases reported in 2004 compared to 77 incidents in 2003.

Reyes, who heads the National Anti-Smuggling Task Force (NASTF), said the department will step up its drive against big-time smuggling this year. He blamed the activity for an estimated P54 billion in loss revenue for the government.

"I have ordered all units to conduct intensified, no-holds-barred operations against big-time smugglers nationwide," he said.

In Manila, Reyes signed an agreement with Liga ng mga Barangay president James Marty Lim for a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the problem of violence against women and children.

Under the agreement signed at the Manila Hotel, the DILG and the league will hold conferences on Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.

The conferences will be targeted at local officials at the barangay level.

"We have laws that protect our women and children but many are still not aware of them. Hence, we urge our local officials, especially at the barangay level, to attend these conferences," Reyes said.

The league will decide on the dates and venues of the conferences and mobilize its provincial, city and municipal federations to ensure the attendance of barangay officials.

The DILG will prepare the modules and materials to be used and provide the resource persons and facilitators.