MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker picked apart President Aquino's report on the country's security situation in his State of the Nation Address, saying the figures he presented were incomplete.
Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support party-list Rep. Samuel Pagdilao, said Aquino only referred to murder rate. The President reported that the murder rate has improved due to the Department of Interior and Local Government's "Operation Lambat."
Aquino said that the number dropped from 31 cases of murder a week to 22 cases after only five weeks of implementation of the operation that installed more police checkpoints throughout Metro Manila.
Pagdilao said, however, that murder is only one of the many crimes such as robbery, theft, homicide and drugs are used as index to determine the national peace and order situation.
"The overall crime index as reported had increased, and the people's perception about the crime situation in the country is neither positive nor optimistic," Pagdilao said in a statement Friday.
"And obviously, this has been the same translation or effect on the image of the police," he added.
He also believed one murder is still too many as violence remains unresolved.
"That is why my priority is to pass the PNP Modernization Bill to enable the [Philippine National Police] to have the means, ways, heart and the organization to fight and beat crimes," Pagdilao said.
Valenzuala City representative and House deputy majority leader Magtanggol Gunigundo said, meanwhile, that the Aquino administration has satisfactorily addressed criminality, but much more needs to be done.
"There are gains but the room for improvement remains large," Gunigundo said.
Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, on the other hand, lauded Aquino for his report on peace and order.
"We have to take the word of the President on that. Unless proven otherwise," he said.