Duterte: 37,000 cops to be hired next year

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has authorized the hiring of around 37,000 new police officers as part of the administration’s campaign against criminality.

“This will bring our police-to-population ratio to the ideal 1 is to 500,” the President said in his message to lawmakers that accompanied his proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for next year.

“Lasting peace can only be attained by combating criminality and terrorism in all its forms,” Duterte said.

Acting budget secretary Wendel Avisado presented the budget proposal yesterday to Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and other leaders of the House of Representatives.

“Under the 2020 proposed budget, we have authorized the creation of another 10,000 Police Officer 1 positions in the Philippine National Police (PNP), costing the government P3 billion,” the President said in his budget message.

Duterte said he also ordered the Department of Budget and Management to approve the request of the PNP for P14.4 billion to fill up 26,686 positions.

To complement the hiring of additional police officers, Duterte said he is proposing P100 million for the construction of more police stations.

Of the P185 billion proposed budget for the PNP, the President said P546 million would fund the implementation of an anti-illegal drug strategy, with the Dangerous Drugs Board as the lead agency.

“Combating criminality and terrorism means that perpetrators must be brought to justice swiftly but fairly and squarely,” Duterte said.