2 of 9 NCRPO execs cleared of crime underreporting

MANILA, Philippines - Two of nine Metro Manila police officials accused of underreporting crimes in their jurisdiction have been cleared after it was found that they were not yet at their posts during the period under review, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said yesterday.

Senior Superintendents Joselito Daniel and Ariel Andrade – chiefs of police of San Juan and Parañaque, respectively – assumed their posts after the Philippine National Police’s Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) reviewed crime reports from January to June, NCRPO deputy director for operations Chief Superintendent Christopher Laxa said.

Andrade assumed his post in July and Daniel became San Juan police chief the following month.

“We found Daniel and Andrade not liable for the discrepancy of the crime incident reports because they were not yet in their posts when the DIDM conducted an inventory of the cases in their cities,” Laxa said in an interview.

The case of Cubao, Quezon City police station commander Superintendent Ramon Pranada is under review by the NCRPO, Laxa added.

Daniel, Andrade, Pranada and six other officials identified by the DIDM as having underreported crimes in their jurisdiction by as much as 60 percent are currently undergoing a refresher course on crime incident reporting, Laxa said.

The fates of the six other officials would depend on their explanation and the decision of PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima after he receives the final report of DIDM chief Director Don Montenegro, who recommended that all nine officials be removed from their posts.

Three of the six officials are city police chiefs: Senior Superintendents Rodolfo Llorca of Pasay, Florendo Quibuyen of Mandaluyong, and Arthur Felix Asis of Taguig.

Montenegro also named Manila police station commanders Superintendent Santiago Pascual (Sampaloc) and Superintendent Manam Muarip (Malate); and Kamuning, Quezon City police station commander Superintendent Limuel Obon.