PNP boosting visibility to deter crimes – Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday said the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership will be increasing police visibility in communities as a deterrent amid reports of a rise in criminal incidence.

“Government is firmly determined to stem the tide of criminality and improve the ability of law enforcement agencies to solve crimes,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

Increased police visibility has been the directive issued by PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima to address fears of unabated crime in the country.

This will be done, according to Coloma, “through intensified patrols and checkpoints, stricter enforcement of gun-control measures, neutralization of guns-for-hire and implementation of search warrants for loose firearms.”

“Increased police visibility may serve as a deterrent against crime, as patrols and checkpoints may lessen opportunities for criminal elements, especially if there will also be heightened citizen vigilance and cooperation with the police,” he said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II activated a text hotline – 0917-6276927 – where the public could report complaints or any criminal activity in their areas.

Roxas said he would personally attend to the complaints texted to him to ensure confidentiality of information received from the public.

The DILG chief appealed to the public to provide the hotline with actionable leads or information that would help the PNP start an investigation or follow-up action.

“I am calling on the public to give us information to the hotline so the police can take appropriate action,” Roxas added.

He said the hotline would give the public the assurance that their concerns will reach proper authorities.

Roxas assured the public of prompt response, particularly if they have any knowledge of criminal activity in their locality; wrongdoings of rogue PNP members; and how the police can serve the public better.

The Quezon City Police Department (QCPD), for its part, has established mobile police desks in strategic points, operating on a 24-hour basis to monitor the peace and order situation and provide ready access for citizen assistance.

In Pangasinan, the PNP created a task force to oversee anti-criminality operations and neutralize guns-for-hire.

“Another important move taken by the PNP is the stricter enforcement of gun control, pursuant to its duty as the chief implementing agency for Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, passed in 2013,” he said.

“Prior to the May 2013 elections, the PNP conducted a nationwide door-to-door campaign to verify ownership of registered firearms, hence, the name Oplan Katok,” Coloma added.

“This was also aimed at neutralizing partisan armed groups or private armies. The successful conduct of this campaign resulted in a significantly lower incidence of election-related violence, especially in known hotspots,” he said.

PNP chief warns commanders

Purisima warned police commanders nationwide to address the series of killings or face sanctions.

The warning was in response to the Malacañang pronouncement that President Aquino is personally putting pressure on the PNP to immediately solve crime incidents.

Purisima denied that the President met with him over the weekend to call his attention to the spate of killings, the latest of which was the murder of Cebu-based businessman Richard King in Davao City and international race car driver Enzo Pastor in Quezon City.

Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP-Public Information Office director, said the PNP has been taking steps to improve peace and order in the country.

He said the PNP chief presided over a command conference to warn police commanders to address all forms of criminality in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Cebu-based businessman King was shot dead in Davao City on Thursday night while having dinner inside his establishment. The assailant walked in and shot him, then fled aboard a motorcycle.

Another high profile case was the shooting of international race car driver Pastor in an ambush by a motorcycle-riding man in Quezon City last Thursday.

Apart from high profile cases, there were also a number of criminal incidents not only in Metro Manila but also in other parts of the country.

Purisma also ordered an updated inventory of criminal cases, particularly illegal drugs and other syndicated criminal activity involving PNP personnel.

The QCPD has formed a special panel to investigate the ambush of Pastor, said QCPD spokesperson Senior Inspector Maricar Taqueban.

She said QCPD deputy district director for operations Senior Superintendent Procopio Lipana would head the panel.

Pastor was driving a truck towing his race car en route to a racetrack in Clark, Pampanga on the night of June 13 when he was shot. His companion was also hit but survived.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) plans to conduct a re-enactment of the Pastor murder after the family asked the bureau last Sunday to discreetly conduct a parallel probe.

The NBI said the re-enactment or time and motion study will help investigators establish the chain of events before and after Pastor was shot by the motorcycle-riding man in the neck and head.

The Davao City police released yesterday the artist’s sketch of the alleged gunman who killed King.

Davao City Police Office director Vicente Danao Jr. said the sketch is based on the accounts of witnesses.

The suspect entered the Vital C Health and Wellness Products building along Sobrecary St. in Barangay Barrio Obrero, Davao City.

“King headed the J. King & Sons Co. Inc., developer of Crown Regency, Club Ultima and the City Suites Ramos Tower in Cebu City.

He also owned the Crown Regency Hotel along Cabaguio Avenue here in Davao City and was also founder and director of Boracay Multiple Properties Inc. that established the Crown Regency Boracay Resort.

Vital C Health and Wellness is King’s newest business venture after he had established another Crown Regency Hotel in Makati City.

King was eating dinner together with his staff last Thursday night when the suspect shot him in the head at close range.

Police said a reward of P1.3 million would be given to anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest of the suspect.  – With Reinir Padua, Aie Balagtas See, Edith Regalado