Aquino keynotes 20th anniversary of Movement for
Restoration of Peace and Order
President Benigno S. Aquino III keynoted
Saturday the 20th anniversary of the Movement for Restoration of Peace and
Order (MRPO) in Intramuros, Manila, thanking the organization for its
continuing support to the government’s efforts to fight criminality.
“Today’s gathering is marked by our
determination to transform the circumstances that caused our tragedies into
opportunities to empower and help our countrymen,” the President said in his
keynote address.
Also in his message, the President reported
recent developments in the government’s fight against crime.
For instance, the President reported that there
has been a 10 percent decrease in crime volume for the entire country from 2011
to 2012. For kidnapping-for-ransom cases, he said it declined from 25 cases in
2011 to 11 cases in 2012.
There has been an even greater decline over the
years, he continued. In 2009, cases perpetrated by organized crime groups stood
at 35, dropping to 21 cases in 2010, 11 in 2011, and six cases in 2012.
There is also a decline in kidnapping-for-ransom
cases perpetrated by terrorist groups, with only five recorded cases in 2012,
down from 25 in 2009. In Mindanao, kidnapping-for- ransom cases have declined
to only five incidents in 2012, compared to ten incidents in 2011, due to
proactive efforts to promote community awareness and cooperation, the President
reported.
The Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) of the
Philippine National Police (PNP) has arrested 29 individuals involved in
kidnapping in 2012, and now being tried in courts.
The AKG also continues to solve kidnapping
cases, through a three-pronged strategy: intelligence gathering and community
awareness campaigns, tactical and strategic management of incidents, and the
enhancement of investigation capabilities.
The PNP also mobilized more police personnel
throughout the country and intensified its campaign against loose firearms and
private armed groups to fight crime, the President said.
MRPO, which was supposed to be an ad hoc group,
was organized on January 13, 1993 following the abduction and murder of
15-year-old Charlene Sy.
The convention, which marked the anniversary of
MRPO, addresses the concerns of kidnapping victims, their families and the
entire community. Kidnapping, particularly of the members of the Chinese-Filipino
community, has been a continuing problem until today.
In the past 20 years, MPRO has served as a
support group to kidnapping victims and their families, assisted the police and
the justice department in investigating and filing cases in court.
The most notable cases pursued by MRPO include
those of Charlene Sy and Coca-Cola executive Betti Chua, who were kidnapped 10
years apart.
MRPO also helped in the prosecution and
conviction of the Jacky Rowena Tui kidnappers after a nine-year court battle.
To date, 57 cases were successfully tried with
about 160 suspects meted life sentences after the death penalty was abrogated.
Currently, 20 kidnapping-for-ransom cases are being tried in courts, the MRPO
reported.
Among those who joined the President during
Saturday’s event were Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas,
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim,
PNP chief Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima, Teresita Ang See, and journalists Jiggy
Manicad and Ces Orena-Drilon. PND (as)
Aquino says Chinese-Filipino community inputs
helpful in government’s anti-crime fight
President Benigno S. Aquino III invited the
Chinese-Filipino community to share its inputs on how the government could
effectively fight criminality happening the in the country.
“We are looking for solutions that are
strategic, rational, and effective.
In the national discussion that is taking place
today, your perspectives are more than welcome,” the President said in his
keynote message during the 20th anniversary of the Movement for Restoration of
Peace and Order (MRPO) held at the Kaisa-Angelo King Heritage Center in
Intramuros, Manila on Saturday.
“After all, your movement was founded on the
basic premise that law enforcement officials and the citizenry must empower
each other; that both the private and public spheres must take active roles in
keeping our communities safe and peaceful,” he added.
The President also acknowledged the gargantuan
task that the government has been facing in deterring criminals and making
communities safe.
For instance, he said that despite the decrease
in overall crime incidence, crime volume in Metro Manila has increased from
2011 to 2012.
The government should work even harder to
keeping cities and barangays free from crimes particularly those that are
gun-related.
The country has also seen the revival of gun
control debates following recent attacks related to the use of guns, he said.
“This public clamor only deepens the necessity
of discernment to determine if this will be the solution to the issue. Is the
problem about licensed gun owners, or lawless elements? Will a total gun ban
really deter kidnappers, murderers, and robbers, and terrorists from committing
their crimes? Is it a question of passing new legislation, or more strict
implementation of existing laws?” he asked.
The President said in previous interviews that
he’s not in favor of imposing total gun ban in the country. Instead he
suggested that the state must go after criminals and private armed groups to
prevent gun violence.
Imposing a total gun ban won’t reduce
gun-related violence because outlaws will not yield their weapons and this will
only make law abiding citizens defenseless, the President argued.
The Department of the Interior and Local
Government has stepped up its campaign against loose firearm to fight
criminality, he said. This will not only make this year’s midterm election
safer and peaceful but will also ensure greater peace and order in the country.
The police is also conducting stringent
operations against private armed groups as part of the government’s anti-crime
effort, the chief executive said. PND (as)
Aquino greets Romblomanons celebrating Biniray
Festival
President Benigno S. Aquino III extended his
greeting on Friday to the people of the Municipality of Romblon, Romblon,
celebrating the Biniray Festival.
“Each locality plays a vital role in building on
our country’s cultural heritage—channeling government programs towards
uplifting the Filipino’s sense of fun and spirit of bayanihan,” the President
said in his message.
“These initiatives are what you, the people and
leaders of Romblon, uphold in this festivity. Your government is heartened by
your people’s pride of place and sense of history.”
The President hopes that with the celebration of
Biniray Festival, the people of Romblon will take the opportunity to foster
unity and cooperation among themselves, particularly with the guidance of their
patron, Nuestro Señor Sto. Niño de Romblon.
“Let us keep our faith, along with the ideals of
fairness, integrity, and passion, as we sustain moral uprightness and good
governance in our society,” he said.
The Biniray (Binirayan) festival is an event
celebrated particularly in the province of Antique. “Biniray” or “Binirayan”
literally means “where they sailed to”.
The Binirayan Festival, which was first
celebrated on January 11 to 13, 1974, commemorates the legend of the arrival of
the10 Bornean datus on the island of Aninipay now known as Panay. PND (co)
