PNP awaits regional reports as Marcos orders identification of crime ‘hotspots’

A day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed the Philippine National Police to identify “hotspots” in the country, the PNP on Tuesday said it is now awaiting the formal reports of its regional offices on areas deemed “crime-prone.”

Interviewed on “BaliTanghali”, PNP Spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said PNP Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. ordered regional directors to identify such areas following Marcos’ directive.

“Bilang pagtugon sa utos na ating Presidente, ang ating Chief PNP ay nagbigay-utos sa ating mga regional directors para tukuyin at i-identify ang crime-prone areas sa kani-kanilang mga lugar na maaaring maging flashpoint ng mga heinous crimes particularly 'yung mga possible threats against sa elected and government officials,” said Fajardo.

(In line with the President’s directive, the chief PNP ordered regional directors to identify crime-prone areas in their respective jurisdictions that may become locations for heinous crimes, particularly those with possible threats to elected and government officials.)

“Inaantay po natin ang official submission ng ating regional offices papunta dito sa ating national office,” she added.

(We’re waiting for their official submissions here in the national office.)

In naming the “crime-prone” areas, the official said authorities will be looking into the “daily crime statistics” as well as the monitoring of “eight focus crimes” of the localities.

“Unang-una po titingnan natin ang kanilang mga daily crime statistics. Syempre po 'yung ating monitoring sa tinatawag nating eight focus crimes at pinakaimportante dito ang gusto po ng ating Presidente ay ma-identify ang mga ‘hotspots’ na pu-pwedeng maging mitsa ng mas mabibigat na kaso,” Fajardo said.

(First, we’ll look at the daily crime statistics and of course, our monitoring of the so-called eight focus crimes. The most important part also is for us to identify the hotspots.)

The PNP effort comes after a recent spate of attacks against local officials. On Saturday, nine individuals, including Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, died after heavily-armed gunmen opened fire while the local official was distributing aid at his residence in Pamplona. Thirteen others were seriously injured in the shooting.

Fajardo said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was still investigating the motive behind the attack though they had “promising leads” on the case.

“Naisampa na nga po ang mga kaso laban sa mga nahuling suspek at other John Does. May mga promising leads tayo na tinututukan. May mga material information na po na hawak ang CIDG na maaaring makapagturo sa mastermind dito sa kaso at inaasahan natin sa darating na araw na makakapagsampa tayo ng kaso laban sa posibleng utak sa pagpaslang kay Gov. Degamo,” she said.

(We’ve already filed charges against arrested suspects and other John Does. We also have promising leads and the CIDG has material information that may identify the possible mastermind of the crime. We also expect to lodge charges against the possible mastermind.)

Further, the PNP official said they are intensifying their efforts in dismantling private armed groups and seizing loose firearms.

“Tuloy-tuloy po ang kampanya ng PNP at AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] lalo-lalo na sa loose firearms. May mga nakuha na tayo, na-applyan na tayo ng search warrant at nakumpiska na tayo na loose firearms,” said Fajardo.

(The PNP and AFP campaign against loose firearms is continuing. We already applied for search warrants against some loose firearms.)

“Dito naman sa private armed groups, marami tayong accomplishments last year and even this year. Bilang bahagi at pagsunod sa utos ng ating Presidente, kasama po ‘yan sa utos ng ating chief PNP na i-identify and determine ‘yung mga dormant at active private armed groups at potential armed groups na maaaring magamit ng mga ibang grupo sa pangha-harass at pag-intimidate sa ating elected officials,” she added.

(In terms of armed groups, we have a lot of accomplishments regarding this last year and this year. The Chief PNP also asked us to determine the dormant and active private armed groups and potential groups that were possibly being used to harass elected officials.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News