Koko questions PNP’s crime statistics amid killings

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III yesterday said there is no reason for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to celebrate the decline in the total crime volume because killings remain rampant in the country.

Pimentel, an ally of President Duterte, said his concern is not so much about the definition of extrajudicial killings, but rather the rise of the number of violent crimes, particularly murder.

Interviewed over dwIZ radio, Pimentel said all forms of killings are unacceptable, be it as a result of legitimate police operations or at the hands of the countless unidentified assassins or vigilantes.

“I know the theory of the police when they claim there is peace and order. They are citing the overall decline in the general incidence of crime, which includes petty crimes,” Pimentel said.

“What I’m worried about is the killings that are taking place left and right and the use of firearms in many of these cases,” he added.

Earlier this week, the PNP came out with a statement saying that total crime volume went down by 7.18 percent from January to August this year.

Pimentel said that the PNP should not be celebrating over this kind of data when murders are still taking place and being reported almost on a daily basis.

“You shouldn’t be happy with the decline in the volume of pickpocketing, swindling and the like when murders are on the rise. Are we supposed to applaud this? Are we supposed to be happy about this?” he added.

This is not the first time that Pimentel has called the attention of the PNP regarding the rise in violent crimes, which he said apparently are not being solved.

On Thursday, Pimentel slammed PNP chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa for failing to stop drug-related killings. But on Friday PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos claimed there is no case of extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration.

Pimentel previously met with Dela Rosa and officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government over this issue but the Senate President is not satisfied with the response he got at that meeting.

If the police has been able to solve any of these killings, Pimentel said he has not heard about it.

He suggested that the PNP publicize all the cases involving killings that they have solved so that the public would be assured that policemen are really doing something to address cases of murders.

To Dela Rosa, Pimentel said that he should evaluate the training of his men to see if it is adequate for them to effectively carry out their duties.

Pimentel also expressed confidence that Congress would be able to provide the budgetary support if the PNP leadership needs to train policemen abroad or to secure whatever is necessary to improve their capacity to solve crimes.