Palace: No need for AFP assistance in campaign vs criminality

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma

MANILA — Malacanang does not see need for military forces to assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) in its campaign against criminality.

“Wala namang ganyang pagsuri sa sitwasyon (There is no such analysis of the situation),” said Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a press briefing on Wednesday.

Coloma reiterated that President Benigno S. Aquino III has been taking hands-on attitude when it comes to crime and police matters, and in communication with heads of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP.

“Hindi naman nagkukulang doon sa aspeto ng supervision. (There is no failure in that aspect of supervision),” he said.

Coloma said the PNP is increasing its visibility through intensified patrols and checkpoints especially in critical areas.

He said police authorities also conducted province-wide anti-criminality campaigns that resulted in the apprehension of unlicensed firearms.

Coloma said the PNP likewise is recruiting 18,500 additional police officers, as it aims to reduce the coverage ratio of one police to 579 citizens from current 675 citizens.

“Kaya isinasagawa ang lahat ng hakbang na ‘yan para mas maging epektibo ang law enforcement by the PNP. (All measures are being undertaken to make PNP’s law enforcement capacity effective),” he said.

“Sabi nga natin hindi pwedeng magkaroon ng unsolved crimes, yung bawat unsolved crime (We said there should be really no unsolved crime, every unsolved crime) is a blight on society and it poses a threat to the safety and lives of our people,” he added.