PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday touted the lower crime rate and lower human rights cases under his administration that he said were achieved without resorting to any shortcuts or acts that subvert the rule of law.
The President, during the oath-taking of the star-ranked officers of the PNP, lauded the police force for their gains in maintaining peace and order but said they should not be content with the current low crime rate.
“While the statistics can be counted, and crime incidents reduced, even in their diminished state the disturbance they cause is still immeasurable. One crime is committed and one crime too many is having occurred,” he said.
Marcos said that in 2017, there were 295,382 crimes committed, which dropped to 207,143 in 2022. It further dropped to 198,617 in the first full year of his administration.
The President said index crimes have also gone down from 107,899 in 2017 to 38,436 in 2023 while the crime clearance efficiency of the PNP was at 98 percent in 2023.
Marcos said the PNP’s crime clearance efficiency continued in the first two months of 2024 as fewer cases of theft, robbery, carnapping, rape, and physical injury were reported.
“And we have done it without resorting to legal shortcuts or short-circuiting the process or acts that subvert the rule of law. Incidents of human rights violations were down by half in 2023 as compared to 2022. It proves that rules that strengthen the fabric of our democracy, rules that our heroes had died for, rules that are enshrined in our Constitution, are not inconveniences in policing but are in fact integral and indispensable in serving up justice,” he said.
The President said amid these achievements, the police should not be complacent as he re-affirmed his administration’s commitment to making the people safe in their homes and secure in their communities.
Marcos also urged the PNP to work hard and with integrity for the benefit of the people.
He asked them to pay particular attention to fighting cybercrimes and to use modern technology that aids in protecting and serving the people, especially in battling cybercrime, where the emerging and evolving digital landscape faces threats that can undo its potential contribution to national growth.
He said the national government is strengthening its anti-cybercrime efforts, from detection and response to case buildup and resolution, and vowed to continue to train PNP personnel in combating cybercrime and enhancing cybersecurity capabilities.
“As you carry out your mission, let me assure you of this administration’s unwavering support and commitment to enhance the PNP’s capabilities and the welfare of all PNP personnel,” he said, stressing the state will strive to ensure the well-being and professional growth of PNP and invest in their development and success.
The President likewise urged the newly promoted PNP officials to continue working hard for the people “until the very last day, the last hour” of their service instead of counting the days to their retirement.
He said that receiving greater success and showing more achievements is the best way to honor the trust that the people have given the PNP.
“Work for them until the very last day, the last hour, the last minute of your service. Do it so when it is time for you to troop the line for the last time, you go contented and comforted in the knowledge that you leave the service and the country a better place than what you found,” Marcos said.
A total of 55 PNP officials comprised of three Lieutenant Generals, 10 Major Generals, and 42 Brigadier Generals took their oath before the President.
