A crime-busting first 100 days

A high batting average in solving crimes through the "Magic Eye" reporting program marked the first 100 days of Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco as Metro Manila police chief.

In his report to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Velasco said his command was able to neutralize 16 criminal syndicates operating in Metro Manila, including the killing of Pentagon kidnap gang leader Faizal Marohambsar and the busting of shabu laboratories in Quezon City and Parañaque City.

"By looking back, we can see where we did right and where we did wrong. And if we made serious mistakes, we can still set them right. We can look at our deeds or what we have failed to do in the light of what goals we have set for ourselves," Velasco told a gathering of police officials and leaders of business, civic and non-government organizations at the EIIB building in Quezon City.

He reiterated that his ultimate goal is to make Metro Manila the safest urban center in East Asia during his term.

On criticisms that the crime rate in Metro Manila has gone up during his term, Velasco said this can be attributed to successful crime reporting schemes like Hotline 117, Magic Eye and Magic Eye Txt Patrol 2910 of the PNP.

"The people now trust their police. They are reporting all kinds of criminal activities in their neighborhood, and we are responding accordingly. This is why we also have higher crime solution efficiency," explained Velasco.

He said they have posted an all-time high of 95.12 percent crime-solving rate, with 5,436 out of 5,715 crimes solved during his first 100 days in office.

Interior Secretary Joey Lina, who was guest of honor at the affair, came to the defense of Velasco saying that the increased crime rate does not show the situation turning from bad to worse.

"Our PNP is transparent enough to report crimes the way it should be," Lina added.

Aside from neutralizing Marohambsar, Velasco also took pride in the arrest of Metro Manila’s most wanted criminal, Edwin Estenso.

In the crime prevention front, the NCRPO chief also cited the containment of big-time bank and convenient store robberies following the activation of the crime mapping and the fine-tuning of the police security containment ring system.Velasco attributed the initial successes of the NCRPO in preventing and solving crimes to an aggressive community-oriented policing system he systematically set in place since he took over the reins of the Metro police force last July 29.

Velasco also took into consideration the snowballing support and involvement of Metro Manila mayors and up to 20 businesses, civic and non-governmental organizations in the crime prevention programs.