PNP deploys e-blotter system for faster crime resolution

To speed up the resolution of crime reports and give the national headquarters an idea of non-performing units within the force, the Philippine National Police (PNP) launched on Wednesday an e-blotter system which will centralized all of its reporting functions. When citizens want to report a crime or file a complaint, they would usually go the the police station and a police officer will take handwritten notes in a huge logbook called the police blotter. With the new system, however, the reports would still be logged manually but at the same time, they will be encoded in a computer linked to the police's central reporting network called the PNP Crime Incident Reporting System. GMA News' Micaela Papa reported in a segment on the late-night newscast "Saksi" that the information logged into the computer would instantly be sent to the central server, which is accessible by all police stations nationwide. Traditionally, blotter reports are processed after an entire day and sent to the district office, which will then process it to be sent to the regional office, and so on. At this rate, even before the information reaches the national headquarters, the report is already stale. "[Gamit ang bagong sistema], makikita namin kung ano ang prevalent crimes committed in our [area of responsibility]. Magagamit namin ito to help us decide and deploy our personnel," said P/Supt. Jimmy Tiu, commander of the Manila Police District Station 8. Because the reports are sent to the national headquarters in real-time, police officials said it would also prevent officers from manipulating the blotter entries. At the same time, the system will give higher officials an idea of which police units are becoming roadblocks to effecting quick justice. "Sa pamamagitan po ng pagsusupervise, halimbawa, ng regional headquarters, makikita kaagad kung sino yung mabagal mag-response, o yung mabagal mag-imbestiga," said PNP Chief Director General Raul Bacalzo. Since the target launch of the system nationwide is on October already, some police stations in Manila and Quezon City have already received the equipment needed for the new system. Some police officers have also been trained on how to use the new system, but the guidelines for its use have yet to be disseminated to police stations. PNP, however, did not disclose how much the government had to shell out to deploy the e-blotter system. Bacalzo said the e-blotter system will be manned by non-uniformed personnel (NUP) and a police officer at the initial stages, "but in the long run, gagawin po nating permanent position 'yan, siguro puwede nang NUP." — TJD, GMA News