President Benigno Aquino III said the Philippine National Police should expect their law-enforcement abilities to be strengthened, as they will be given almost 75,000 guns to help them in their jobs.

 

“Pagkatapos ng proseso, maipagkakaloob na ang 74,600 na baril na magagamit nila upang ipagtanggol at alagaan ang bayan, lipunan, at sarili,” Aquino said in his third State of the Nation Address at the Batasan Pambansa Complex on Monday.

 

Aquino said that “may nanalo na po sa bidding” for the PNP’s new weapons, and said that the weapons are being checked for quality.

 

“Alam po nating hindi araw-araw ang laban ni Pacman, at hindi puwedeng i-asa dito ang pagbaba ng krimen,” Aquino said, referring to boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, whose televised fights drastically reduce crime rates.

 

The President also said that, generally, the country’s crime rate has decreased.

 

“Ang mahigit 500,000 krimen na naitala noong 2009, mahigit kalahati po ang nabawas: 246,958 na lamang iyan nitong 2011,” he said. — DVM, GMA News