Security authorities tackling criminality in the country, says Palace

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MANILA — The Palace made an assurance on Thursday that the government is doing everything to address crimes in the country, especially kidnapping for ransom.

“The Philippine National Police (PNP) is exerting all efforts to crack down on the criminal elements behind kidnapping-for-ransom cases,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. during a press briefing in Malacañang.

He said that on Wednesday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas, PNP Chief Director General Alan Purisima, and representatives of concerned citizens’ groups, including Teresita Ang See, discussed the concerns of the Filipino-Chinese community.

Coloma said that according to the PNP, the reported number of kidnaping-for-ransom cases as of last August increased to 38 from 31 in the same period last year.

“This is what the police are working on now, in terms of intensified police efforts,” he said.

The people need to understand the situation in perspective, he said, noting that in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last month, the President made it clear that the government’s thrust is to capture the criminals, and gather strong evidence to successfully convict them.

“Ang palaging ipinapahayag ng Pangulo at ine-emphasize hinggil diyan ay ito: Dapat ay may kasiguruhan na ang mga hinuhuli at isinasakdal ay mapaparusahan,” he said.

“Dapat may kasiguruhan na pangangalagaan ng pamahalaan ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng mga mamamayan. Kaya iyan ang patuloy na nagsisilbing pamantayan sa lahat ng ating mga law enforcement authorities,” he added.

Coloma said that as the President leaves for Europe and the United States next week, the chief executive can assure investors that the Philippines is safe for doing business.

“The President can face the world with a clear view that the Philippines is safe for investors, the Philippines is safe for its citizens,” he said, appealing to the public to avoid painting a gloomy picture of the country’s security situation.

“Hindi kinakailangang magpinta tayo ng larawan ng ligalig dahil ang sitwasyon naman ay masasabi nating stable. The crime situation is well under the control of the police authorities. Kaya hindi dapat lumikha ng ligalig hinggil dito,” he said.