PNP gets 130 patrol vehicles from Korea

The Philippine National Police on Tuesday received 130 patrol vehicles from the Korean government as part of a project that is aimed at improving the "criminal investigation and security management capability" of the 190,000-strong police force.

The donation of the patrol vehicles is part of the $6.6-million grant under the Korea International Cooperation Agency's project entitled "Enhancing the Criminal Investigation Capability of the Philippine National Police."

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde along with Local Government Undersecretary for Peace and Order Bernardo Florece Jr., Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man, and Commissioner General of Korea National Police Agency Lee Chul-Sung witnessed the turn over ceremony of 49 units of Hyundai Elantra (marked sedan), 49 units Starex (marked van) and another 49 units of unmarked Starex van.

The recipients of the vehicles are the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), the National Capital Region Police Command Office (NCRPO), and the Police Regional Offices in Cordillera, Central Luzon, and Central Visayas.

The PNP offices in Angeles, Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Davao and Baguio will also receive the new patrol vehicles where there is a high concentration of the Korean community.

Albayalde, meanwhile, vowed that the PNP will resolve pending cases involving Korean victims.

"Unang una ang hiningi satin ng Korean ambassador is yung pagresolba ng mga kaso na involving mga victims na Korean nationals no. Gaya ng sinabi niya kanina, yung last year sa Cebu at this year meron diyan sa may parteng Caloocan and we promised the ambassador na gagawin natin ang lahat para maresolba itong mga kaso na 'to," Albayalde said.

"Actually yung case sa Caloocan meron ng suspect diyan, meron ng development diyan," he continued.

The PNP chief also assured that the new patrol vehicles will be taken good care of as it will be issued to only at least personnel including the authorized driver, alternate driver and the stand-by driver.

"So anything happens diyan sa sasakyan na 'yan, magasgas 'yan or mabangga 'yan then alam natin kaagad kung sino ang may responsibilidad. Unlike 'pag nakaissue 'yan sa unit, 'pag nabangga 'yan, 'pag gagamitin ng isang driver, sasabihin niya, hindi ko alam sir kung anong nangyari diyan basta inabutan ko na lang na ganyan," Albayalde said.

"Unlike kung nakaissue 'yan sa tao, parang baril, nakaissue yan sa drivers ngayon. So there is accountability dito," he added.

Despite this, Albayalde admitted that there is still shortage of patrol vehicles in the PNP especially in some Police Community Precinct (PCP).

"Kung shortage ang paguusapan talagang meron tayo kasi sample lang 'yan, yung pinuntahan nating PCP sa Caloocan, meron ngang isa o dalawang PCP na kahit motorsiklo wala sila. So makita natin na even in Metro Manila alone, meron tayong kakulangan sa mga patrol vehicles natin," he said.

The five-year KOICA project which covers 2016 to 2020 was signed on July 12, last year. —NB, GMA News