Estrada ready to call in entire AFP for peace and order

President Estrada said yesterday improved peace and order is among his best accomplishments during his nearly two years in office.

And he's willing to call in the entire Armed Forces to help the police maintain law and order for the rest of his term.

Addressing the Philippine National Police (PNP) during its ninth anniversary celebration at Camp Crame yesterday, the President said that since he assumed office, ransom kidnappings and bank robberies have been greatly minimized.

To show his appreciation for the PNP's performance, the President announced an average 18 percent raise in their monthly pay, ranging from 21 percent for senior police officers 4 to 28 percent for police officers 3.

But he admonished policemen to stay away from beerhouses, saying they should spend their off-duty hours in places that offer more wholesome entertainment.

PNP chief Deputy Director General Panfilo Lacson also warned corrupt policemen to change their ways or face the wrath of the police hierarchy.

Mr. Estrada said the pay hike is part of the administration's program to reform the PNP to discourage policemen from engaging in criminal activities.

In his speech, the President said he is fulfilling his promise to increase the policemen's basic pay and their fringe benefits like housing.

In banning policemen from beerhouses, the Chief Executive said they should start looking for other places in which to spend their off-duty hours.

"Professional performance and exemplary behavior are expected from you at all times, whether on duty or not," he said.

Lacson said the campaign to rid the 113,000-strong PNP of corrupt, inept and undisciplined policemen is meant to protect the citizenry.

"The few scalawags continue to taunt us, but even as they continue to test us, this much I can tell them," he said. "Forget the taunting and the testing. You will not last. There are many good cops and many more reformed cops who will run after you. And if caught, you will lose face, you will lose your job, you will lose your benefits and you will lose your freedom."

He said many sectors, especially transport groups are supporting his campaign, which also intends to protect honest policemen from "unnecessary and dangerous contamination."

The President also told the policemen that he reserves the right to call in the entire armed forces to maintain law and order.

He dismissed legal and other challenges to the deployment of 500 Marines in Metro Manila this month.

The partnership between the police and the military would continue to check crime and law and order, he added.

"Now, there is reason for the criminals to cower in fear because the coordination between the military and the police is better," he said.

"This should be a strong signal to the criminals that we mean business, and I'll do everything as commander-in-chief (of the Armed Forces) to maintain peace and order in the country. If it is necessary to use the entire military to fulfill this, we will do it because this is allowed by our Constitution."

"People demand results, not fancy rhetoric," he said. "With the help of the Marines, we are sure to have an even better condition of public safety, especially here in Metro Manila."

He has also dismissed speculation that the deployment of Marines was meant to discourage rumors of a coup attempt.

"Even if there will be criticisms about this, as along as we are following the law, we will do everything to bring back the confidence of our countrymen."

The PNP has always been at the bottom of popularity surveys because of perception that many policemen are involved in corruption.

Lacson, on the other hand, said petty crimes have dropped since the deployment of the Marines in various parts of Metro Manila this month.

During the ceremony, Mr. Estrada expressed his support to the partnership of Lacson and Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim.

"Grandstanding politicians have criticized some of our actions and initiatives," he said. "But I believe that they remain just because many of our people approve of our actions. They have had enough of grandstanding critics who do not face the threats that many of our people encounter in the streets."

The President reiterated his instructions to Lim and Lacson to remove without hesitation erring, incompetent and inept policemen from the service.

"Spare no one, not even people close to me." - With AFP reports