GRACE POE: RID PNP OF SCALAWAGS

Sen. Grace Poe asked Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Alan Purisima to intensify its drive against scalawags in uniform to ensure the highest standard of service that it owes to render to the public.

"The vigilance of our citizens in fighting misconduct and exposing misfits in government must be met with heightened commitment and zeal by our police," Poe said in the wake of the involvement of at least eight policemen in the recently reported kidnapping for ransom case in Mandaluyong City.

To press her call, Poe filed a resolution urging the PNP to operate "an improved 24/7 dedicated direct national emergency hotline similar to the successful 911 system in the US to address crime situations and provide assistance for citizens' predicaments and other peace and order issues."

In her resolution, Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, underscored the need for the said hotline in addressing crimes across the country.

Her resolution cited, "The PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management reported an increase in total crime volume in the first five months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013: from 245,347 last year to 289,198 early this year."

PNP's crime statistics showed that there was also a noticeable spike in crime volume between 2008 and 2009, and again between 2012 and 2013. In the last case, the crime volume in 2013 was reported at 631,406, around triple the volume in the year before, at 217,812. More than 1/4 of crimes reported between January and May 2014 happened in the National Capital Region.