INQUIRY ON KIDNAPPING INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE POLICE: Senator Grace Poe, chair of Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, is greeted by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Alan Purisima after he attended a Senate inquiry on the alleged breakdown of peace and order, and the rising crime rate in Metro Manila involving police officers, Tuesday, September 30, 2014. The hearing, which focused on proposed measures seeking to modernize the PNP, also looked into the recent spate of kidnapping incidents and the rise in mortality rates due to unlicensed firearms. Poe said that “a police force cannot be effective if it lacks equipment and logistics capability, or if lawmen do not get paid adequate wages to live decently and with integrity.” (PRIB Photo by Joseph Vidal)