President Aquino joins PNP in commemorating
112th Police Service Anniversary
President Benigno S. Aquino III joined the
officers and employees of the Philippine National Police in commemorating the
112th Police Service Anniversary that was held at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center
in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Tuesday.
Joining the President were Department of
Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II and PNP Police Director
General Alan Purisima.
The PNP celebrates the month of August as Police
Service Anniversary in commemoration of the joint founding anniversaries of the
Insular Constabulary established in 1901 and the Integrated National Police,
which was organized in 1975, as forerunner organizations of the PNP.
The President also led the awarding ceremonies
to PNP individuals and units for outstanding achievements.
The awardees are: Chief Superintendent Marcelo
Garbo, Jr. (Regional Director, National Capital Region Police Office) for
outstanding achievement in the field of Police Administration; Police Officer 2
Webster Liwag (Malolos City Police Office) for outstanding achievements in the
field of Police Operations; Police Regional Office 9 for outstanding
achievements in the campaign against terrorism, regional level; Highway Patrol
Group for outstanding achievements in the campaign against organized crime;
Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office for
outstanding achievements in the campaign against organized crime, provincial
level; Batangas Police Provincial Office for recording the most number of
firearms accounted for during the May 2013 midterm elections; Ilocos Sur
Regional Special Operations Task Goup (RSOTG) for recording the least number of
violent incidents during the May 2013 midterm elections; and Lanao del Sur
RSOTG for the most improved security preparations during the May 2013 midterm
elections.
In his speech, the President lauded the winners
saying the country could use more people and units like them in order to
improve the peace and order situation in the country and become inspirations
for others to emulate.
“Sa lahat ng ating mga pinarangalan sa araw na
ito, kasama na ang libo-libo nating pulis na tapat sa serbisyo: saludo ang
sambayanang Pilipino sa inyo. Kayo ang patunay na hindi mauubusan ng mabubuting
halimbawa ang ating unipormadong hanay. Maraming salamat sa pag-ambag sa
tinatamasa nating pagbabago,” the President said.
He added that because of their and the police
forces’ dedication to their sworn duties is proof enough for the government to
support reforms and the upgrading of their capabilities such as providing
firearms, personnel and housing.
“Ang serbisyong hatid ng mga tulad ninyo ang
patuloy na nagtutulak sa ating pamahalaan upang mamuhunan sa ating kapulisan.
Ngayong napipinto na nating makamit ang one-to-one police-to-pistol ratio bago
matapos ang taon, mabubura na sa bokabularyo ng Pilipino ang terminong “Pulis
Patola.” Sa kasalukuyan, nasa 37,578 units na ng Glock 17 9mm pistol ang
nai-deliver mula sa kabuuang 74,879 units para sa PNP. Bulto-bulto pang
ihahatid ang natitirang baril sa mga darating na buwan, hanggang sa maisara na
natin ang ating kakulangan sa larangang ito,” the President said.
“Bahagi naman ng ating PNP Operational
Transformation Plan ang pagpapatatag sa puwersa ng ating unipormadong hanay. Sa
naitala po kasing 146,085 nating pulis nitong Abril, nasa 30,000 ang may
trabahong administratibo. Malayo po ito sa target nating magkaroon ng 1 is to
500 ratio para sa actual field personnel-to-population ratio. Ang ating
solusyon: kumuha ng tatlumpung libong Non-Uniform Personnel sa susunod na
dalawang taon. Ang resulta: Bukod sa malilikhang bagong trabaho, ay mas
maraming pulis na imbes na humarap lamang sa computer o lamesa, ay haharap nang
muli sa tao at tatanod sa kalsada,” he added.
“Kung umaasa po ang mamamayan sa mabuting
serbisyo mula sa ating mga pulis, di po ba’t makatarungan lamang na tutukan
naman ng estado ang kanilang kapakanan? Tuloy-tuloy po ang mga inisyatiba
nating pabahay: Naipamahagi na natin sa Phase I ang 21,800 housing units para
sa unipormadong hanay; 10,900 dito ang naihandog natin sa mga kasapi ng PNP. Sa
Phase II naman, 26,050 units na ang ating natapos mula sa target na 31,200
ngayong taon, at ang pagkakaintindi ko itong buwan na ito, dapat matapos ang
target na ‘yan; 14,040 naman sa makatatanggap nito ang mula sa hanay ng ating
kapulisan. Sa tuwid na daan, hindi na maaaring maetsa-puwera ang kapulisan;
habang pinapanatili ninyong mapayapa’t ligtas ang ating lipunan, titiyakin din
ng gobyerno na nasa mabuting kamay ang inyong pamilya’t kinabukasan,” the
President further said. PND (rck)
President Aquino announces budget for PNP
modernization program to be released soon
President Benigno S. Aquino III announced on
Tuesday that additional tranches from the P9-billion additional budget that
will be used for the Philippine National Police modernization program will be
released soon in order for the upgrade of the country’s police force may
commence immediately.
The President made the announcement in his
speech keynoting the 112th Police Service Anniversary held at the PNP
Multi-Purpose Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
He said that additional budget, of which P2.86-billion
had already been released over the weekend by the Department of Budget and
Management under the 2013 PNP Capability Enhancement Program, will go to the
purchase of equipment, such as firearms, radios and vehicles; the improvement
of police offices and the hiring of more personnel to augment the PNP’s
visibility in order to deter crime.
“Kanina po ay binanggit ng ating hepe (Police
Director General Alan Purisima) na mayroon kayo sa first tranche na two-billion
pesos na pondong dagdag...na ang kabuuan po niyan ay mahigit nine billion,” the
President said.
He said that the additional budget, of which
P2.86-billion had already been released over the weekend by the Department of
Budget and Management under the 2013 PNP Capability Enhancement Program, will
go to the purchase of equipment, such as additional firearms, radios and
vehicles; the improvement of police offices and the hiring of more personnel to
augment the PNP’s visibility in order to deter crime.
He underscored the importance of a strong police
force as he called on all Filipinos to set aside differences and work together
in helping the PNP become stronger and better.
"Kaya po ngayong magkakasama tayo, ito ang
hiling at hamon ko sa inyo: magtulungan tayo sa pag-aangat ng dangal at kalidad
ng serbisyo ng PNP. Tuldukan na natin ang kalakaran ng pagkakanya-kanya.
Panahon na ng pakikilahok upang iangat ang isa’t isa. Kasama ninyo ako, at ang
buong pambansang liderato sa pagtutulak ng pagbabago,” the President said.
“Maliwanag po ang hinaharap natin sa tuwid na
daan: Katuwang ang hanay ng kapulisang pinatatag ng husay, disiplina, at
dangal, abot-kamay na natin ang isang lipunang malaya sa agam-agam at
pag-aalinlangan. Isang bansa nating ihakbang pasulong ang inaasam nating
Pilipinas na bukal ng tagumpay at kaunlaran,” he added. PND (rck)
Government fund available to help typhoon
victims, says Palace
The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management
Council (NDRRMC) is currently assessing affected areas in northern Luzon which
was devastated by Typhoon Labuyo, the Palace said Tuesday saying that there is
available fund to help the victims.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday that the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) has P160-million standby fund to help the
affected communities.
This standby fund covers the Cordillera
Administrative Region (CAR), Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, Region 5, and Region 8,
Valte said.
The DSWD has readied the fund for augmentation
for any type of disaster in those regions in addition to the money available at
the local level, she said.
As an initial response, DSWD-CAR has
prepositioned 5,163 family packs, 200 sacks of food and non-food items at the
DSWD Baguio City field office.
In some areas, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines has been working with other agencies in road clearing particularly
in Baguio City, Valte said.
“They are now working on clearing as well as
restoring power to some of the affected areas,” she said.
As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Valte said the NDRRMC
reported stranded passengers because the government’s “no sail policy” has not
been lifted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to avoid sea mishaps.
The government already has the initial estimated
cost of damages in some of the areas but it is yet to receive the final report
because other affected regions are yet to submit their reports. Currently,
agencies are concentrating on search and rescue efforts, she added.
Valte said that authorities are working to find
fishermen who ventured out to sea two weeks before government issued the
warning about the incoming typhoon. PND (as)
Govt opens additional evacuation centers to
house displaced families in Mindanao
Malacanang said it is prepared to provide
temporary shelter to families displaced by ongoing fighting in Mindanao after
the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) clashed with government security
forces.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said the government opened four evacuation centers in the area for the families
that have been displaced by the fighting.
But because of the increasing number of people
affected by the hostilities, she said the government set up additional
evacuation centers bringing the total number to 13.
The 13 evacuation centers, located in Pikit,
North Cotabato, now house some 1,197 families or 5,985 persons, she said.
The Palace official pegged the total number of
displaced families to 2,122 or 10,610 persons. Half of the initial 2,122 have
sought refuge to friends and relatives, she said.
With regards to the bombing in Cagayan de Oro
City a few weeks ago, Valte said authorities were able to identify the
attackers and charges have been filed against them. PND (as)
