PNP operating on P35-B budget

Despite a P35 billion budget this year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is unable to buy new equipment and recruit more policemen to bolster its crime-fighting capability.

Speaking at Fernandina Forum at Dencio’s Bar and Grill in Greenhills, San Juan yesterday, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil said 90 percent of the P35-billion budget is being used to pay the salaries of policemen.

"We are operating within a budget of P35 billion for year 2005," he said.

"About 90 percent of that goes to personnel salaries. Some nine percent or P3.16 billion goes to operations. There is a very minimal amount of about P50 million for capital outlay," Bataoil said.

He said the ideal ratio for the PNP’s manpower would be 1:500 or one policeman to 500 civilians.

"We are now 113,102 uniformed personnel," he said.

"If we add the non-uniformed personnel, 4,998, this would be about 117,000. The actual ratio is 1:744 persons. The ideal strength is 168,418 policemen.

"We need a lot of policemen to build up our strength. But we are aware of the economic situation of our country."

Bataoil said barangay tanods and security guards, by providing security to the public at a local level, are a big help to the PNP. — Sandy Araneta