EDITORIAL - The PNP at 11

In recent weeks there have been mostly good news on the economic front. Despite the political turmoil of the past year, the latest kidnapping caper of the Abu Sayyaf, and a global economic slump aggravated by the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, the country managed to post modest economic growth. The stock market is up, inflation is down, the peso is stable, foreign investors are bullish about the Philippine economy, and the country’s credit rating has just been upgraded. Poverty is still all around us, but sound economic fundamentals are crucial in building a solid foundation for poverty alleviation.

There are many other problems, however, that must be addressed to put the nation on the road to progress. Among the most pressing is criminality, which has been cited as a major public concern in all surveys. President Arroyo’s plan to enlist New York’s former mayor Rudy Giuliani as a consultant on peace and order indicates the level of her dissatisfaction with her country’s law enforcers. The President may not admit this, especially with the Philippine National Police celebrating its 11th anniversary today. But she’s not the only one who will be happy to see better performance from the national police.

The PNP has had some impressive achievements in the past year. There were major hauls of shabu, with the drug traffickers arrested. The PNP reported that more crimes are being solved. There are many exemplary police personnel, people who are dedicated to a job that requires them to constantly lay their lives on the line. It’s a thankless job with lowly pay. The PNP is as poorly equipped as the Armed Forces of the Philippines, with neither the resources nor training for modern detective work and law enforcement. We get only the kind of law enforcement we can afford.

Still, there should be no excuses for sloppy work. Despite several arrests made and cases solved, kidnapping for ransom remains a major concern particularly in the Filipino-Chinese community. Kidnappers seem to be able to keep one step ahead of the PNP. There is also no excuse for corruption. From mulcting to payoffs from gambling lords, corruption continues to tarnish the image of the national police. On its 11th year, the PNP can use another major purge as it moves to improve its performance.