High marks for CPD

The Central Police District has reported to Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. that 96 percent of cases, including sensational crimes committed in the city, were solved and considered closed by police investigators.

The report submitted during a command conference at city hall noted that among the sensational cases solved was the killing of former Alex Boncayao Brigade chieftain Romulo Kintanar at a restaurant at the Quezon City Memorial Circle last January.

The report said police visibility and mobilization of barangay tanods in the anti-crime drive contributed to the solution of crimes. To address the problem of criminality in the city, police have mobilized the Barangay Information Network to monitor criminal activities at the barangay level.

More foot patrols and mobile checkpoints have also been ordered in crime prone areas.

Belmonte has been providing the necessary support to the CPD by distributing early this year P50 million worth of equipment including patrol cars, pistols, two way radios, bomb disposal gear and motorcycles.

The support given by the mayor to the police was acknowledge by no less than Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, who said that among local government units in the country the Quezon City government is the biggest supporter of the Philippine National Police.

Meanwhile, the failure to submit police reports on time resulted a dip in the performance rating of the Pasay City police station during the third quarter of this year in the Southern Police District (SPD).

Based on the Consolidated per SPD Police Station records, the Pasay police station — from its previous ranking of No. 3 during the second quarter of this year, slipped to 6th place from the period of July to September. The results of the fourth quarter is expected to be released by January 2004.

The Makati City police with 661.91 points was the best performing station during the third quarter, overtaking Parañaque City police that held the No. 1 spot in the previous quarter. Parañaque garnered 654.21 points for second place. They were followed by Las Piñas with 645.67 points, Taguig with 630.12 points, Pateros with 629.91 points, Pasay with 626.37 points, and Muntinlupa with 623.69 points.

Analyzing the latest report, Senior Superintendent Oscar Catalan, Pasay City police chief, took note of lapses. "It seems that we had problems in complying with the requirements such as the submission of paperwork. Definitely there are lapses with my people. I would have to remind my men to submit their reports on time." — Perseus Echeminada, Evelyn Macairan