MANILA, Philippines - Incidents of car theft, killings of journalists, natural disasters, and allegations of anomalous procurement of police equipment bore down on the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2011.
In July, Sen. Panfilo Lacson accused former PNP chief Jesus Verzosa and 30 other active and retired police officials and suppliers of involvement in the anomalous purchase of Raven 44 helicopters.
Lacson alleged that two of the three helicopters, purchased for P104.9 million supposedly as brand new, were previously owned by former first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.
The expose led to the conduct of a Senate inquiry, during which it was learned that the two helicopters had been used frequently by members of the Arroyo family and their friends during the campaign for the 2010 elections.
Graft charges were eventually filed against Arroyo, Verzosa, and the 30 other accused.
During the investigation on the helicopter purchase, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo exposed that the PNP, under Verzosa’s leadership, had procured P131-million worth of rubber boats under anomalous conditions.
The boats, procured to strengthen disaster response and preparedness, were found to be defective as the engines did not match specifications given by the National Police Commission. Investigators said some police officials in charge of procurement adjusted the specifications to accommodate the suppliers who turned out to be their friends. Robredo also exposed the alleged anomalous repair of 30 units of armored personnel carriers or V-150s that cost the government P409 million. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the investigating arm of the PNP, had referred all the cases to the Office of the Ombudsman for assessment and investigation.
The conduct of the investigations did not affect the usual turnover of command from PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo to PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome on Sept. 9.
President Aquino personally witnessed the turnover ceremony at Camp Crame in Quezon City. Bacalzo’s term and the three-month leadership of Bartolome have been considered smooth-sailing, albeit punctuated with natural disasters caused by strong typhoons.
Car theft
During the early part of 2011, incidents of car theft that led to the killing of car traders Emerson Lozano, his co-employee Ernani Sensil and Venson Evangelista underscored the problem of car theft in the country. On two separate occasions, the victims accommodated potential buyers for a test drive and did not return. Police found Sensil’s burned body in a grassy area in La Paz, Tarlac on Jan. 13, while Lozano’s body was recovered in Porac, Pampanga on Jan. 17.
Evangelista’s body, on the other hand, was found on Jan. 14 in Nueva Ecija but was only properly identified by his father Arsenio on Jan. 17.
Authorities pointed to the car theft group led by brothers Raymond and Roger Dominguez as being responsible for the killings. They were arrested and charged in courts, but denied involvement.
After the incidents, the PNP, through the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), strengthened the campaign against car theft.
On Jan. 19, however, the high-end sport utility vehicle owned by a cousin of former senator Mar Roxas was stolen in Makati City. The Toyota Land Cruiser of Margarita Fores was parked along De la Rosa Street in Legaspi Village when it disappeared.
There were no reports if the vehicle had been recovered or if the thieves had been identified.
It was also discovered that over 30 personnel of the PNP and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) connived with car thieves by “cleaning” the records of the stolen vehicles.
The stolen vehicles usually end up in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The HPG had made several recommendations to address the series of car thefts in Metro Manila but these have not yet been acted on by the Office of the President.
Killing of journalists
The killings of journalists also remained a problem for the PNP in 2011.
On Jan. 24, Palawan-based radio broadcaster Dr. Gerry Ortega was shot dead by an unidentified man believed to be from Metro Manila.
Ortega, a commentator on Radio Mindanao Network who strongly opposed mining in the province, died on the spot after being shot in the head. He was the first journalist to be killed in 2011.
Former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes was implicated in the murder but he denied this. The Department of Justice eventually cleared him of involvement, a move that was strongly opposed by Ortega’s family and supporters.
Ortega’s murder inspired the launching of a signature campaign seeking 10 million supporters for the banning of mining activities in Palawan.
Broadcaster Maria Len Flores Somera, 44, host of “Arangkada 1530” on radio dzME, was shot dead on March 24. Charges have been filed against the alleged attackers and their cohorts. The motive for the slay was supposedly a land dispute.
Training
Before Bacalzo stepped down as PNP chief, he and Deputy Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. initiated a program to ensure that all investigators receive formal training.
The STAR had previously reported that eight out of 10 police investigators nationwide lacked formal training.
A document obtained by The STAR showed that only 908 of 3,781 police investigators in nine regions have had formal training on case investigation.
Cacdac said the PNP has completed the training for police investigators.
Also in 2011, the PNP national headquarters at Camp Crame was formally declared as a national historical site by the National Historical Institute.
The declaration will prevent the plan to sell the police camp built in the 1950s and named after the first Filipino general, Rafael Crame.
The PNP likewise continued to reconstruct 39 dilapidated police stations nationwide.
Better year
For 2012, Bartolome said he is expecting a better climate of peace and order as people are now more security conscious and aware of their responsibilities.
“We foresee a better climate for change, especially since people are aware of their responsibilities. Our citizens know their roles so we can achieve peace and order,” said Bartolome.
“When it comes to crimes, our records would show that from January to November 2011, crime volume went down by 23 percent,” said Bartolome, who expressed optimism that when records for December are submitted and consolidated, the same downtrend in crime volume will be sustained.
Bartolome also said the PNP is set to launch an electronic warrant and electronic rogues’ gallery to allow policemen nationwide to see and get copies of warrants of arrest and pictures of criminals.
“We started with e-blotter, next is e-warrant which will be launched by the next quarter and e-rogue, meaning photos of wanted persons will be put on a database and can be accessed by all police stations,” said Bartolome.
The electronic blotter or e-blotter was launched by Bacalzo to allow the PNP leadership to monitor the performance of every police station.