PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. yesterday said officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), especially those recently appointed to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), should prove their sincerity by cooperating with the national government in going after lawless elements in Mindanao, including surrendering those who are wanted and hiding in their territories.
Azurin, in a briefing in Malacanang, issued the call after two police officers were killed and three others injured in an attack in Barangay Kapinpilan in Ampatuan, Maguindanao shortly after they served a warrant of arrest against a certain Kamir Kambal.
He said there were initial reports the police officers supposedly failed to secure permission from the MILF to conduct anti-criminality operations in its territories.
“Our police force entered the MILF territory and they are saying that it is necessary to ask permission from the MILF first before the police and military can enter. That’s why on my own I really question that because there is only one PNP, there is only one AFP and we are here to serve our countrymen; why do they limit or why do our police have to ask or inform them,” he said.
Azurin raised concerns that seeking permission first to serve warrants could alert the wanted persons.
He said the MILF, especially its members who are part of the BTA that is overseeing reforms in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), should show its sincerity in the peace process and cooperate with the national government.
“It seems that these wanted persons are in their area. If our law enforcers will need to seek permission first, what is the probability of them being able to catch these criminals? Since they were already appointed, they should help catch these criminals because they are already part of the government. So, this is what we are asking from our counterparts in the peace process — to show some sincerity to this government as well,” he said.
Azurin also questioned the “home made” weapons that MILF forces are turning over to the government, believing they still have more high-powered and powerful weapons on hand. Azuring said he knows this because his first assignment as a policeman was in Mindanao.
Azurin and Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. visited the wake of Lt. Reynaldo Samson, Ampatuan town police chief, at a funeral home in Mindanao and conferred on him the Medalya ng Kadakilaan for his gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. The remains of Samson will be flown to his hometown in Muntinlupa City.
Azurin and Abalos also visited the wake of Samson’s aide-driver, Cpl. Salipudin Endab, and conferred the same Medalya ng Kadakilaan.
They also visited Senior M/Sgt. Reynante Quinalayo, Cpl. Rogelio Dela Cuesta, and Cpl. Marc Clint Dayaday who were injured and confined at a hospital in Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat. They also received the Medalya ng Kadakilaan at Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting (PNP Wounded Personnel Medal). The PNP will also shoulder the cost of their confinement.
Azurin, during the briefing, offered a moment of silence for the two fallen cops.
“They are worthy of our praise for the dedication they displayed in fighting criminality. Their sacrifices will not be put in vain as the PNP vows to pursue the perpetrators and make them legally liable for their actions,” he said.
DECLINING INDEX CRIMES
In the same briefing, Azurin said index crimes in the country have been on a steady downtrend under the term of President Marcos Jr. He said index crimes, which are serious in nature with sufficient frequency and regularity, include murder, homicide, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping, and physical injury.
Azurin said from July 1 to August 25 this year, theft cases decreased to 1,896 from 7,514 in 2016 or during the start of the term of then President Rodrigo Duterte, and from 12,773 in 2010 or during the start of the term of the late President Benigno “Simeon” Aquino III.
He said physical injury cases also dropped to 579 from 3,777 in 2016 and 10,208 in 2010; along with cases of robbery to 793 from 3,028 in 2016 and 6,580 in 2010; murder to 649 from 2,332 in 2016 and 1,423 in 2010; carnapping to 280 from 1,253 in 2016 and 1,169 in 2010; rape to 903 from 1,666 in 2016 and 704 in 2010; and homicide to 161 from 345 in 2016 and 614 in 2010.
“The data of the decrease in crime is also proof that the PNP’s ability in the aspect of solving crimes is also increasing. You can see from the data that crime clearance increased by 94.65 percent and crime solution efficiency by 82.28 percent from 2010 to 2022,” he said.
He said the continuous monitoring and following up of cases and strategies by investigators contributed to the improved crime incidence.
Azurin released the data amid reports of increasing crimes in the country.
He said while there was an apparent “sensational surge in social media reporting of some crime incidents,” many of these are previously reported cases that had already been categorized as solved by PNP units.
