INTERIOR Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr yesterday said Speaker Martin Romualdez has vowed to help provide funds to the PNP so it can again recruit 10,000 policemen annually.
In a radio interview, Abalos said the commitment was made by Romualdez during a meeting at the House of Representatives on Monday, which was also attended by PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
“We’ve been recruiting 10,000 new recruits every year (before the pandemic). For the past two years, maybe because of the (COVID) pandemic, we’ve recruited only 1,000 (per year), given funding,” he said.
“So the Speaker said, he talked to (Budget) Secretary Amenah (Pangandaman), they are going to restore the number of policemen we will recruit every year,” he added.
The PNP, in a statement, said Romualdez also promised to provide funding support, through legislation, for the recruitment of more policemen, and for information technology and capability enhancement that are also needed in the fight against crime.
“House Speaker Martin Romualdez has expressed support for the proposal of the Philippine National Police to recruit 10,000 policemen yearly,” the statement read.
The meeting was held after a recent series of ambushes victimizing local government officials, with one incident resulting in the death of Aparri, Cagayan vice mayor Rommel Alameda.
Alameda’s vehicle was ambushed by gunmen in police uniform, in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya on February 19. Alameda’s five companions also died.
Two days earlier, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr was also ambushed, in Maguing town, wounding the governor and another companion. Four other companions of Adiong died in the incident.
On Wednesday last week, Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur Mayor Ohto Caumbo Montawal was injured in an ambush in Pasay City.
“The House Speaker wanted to know what happened to the high-profile cases and how Congress can help,” said Abalos. “The meeting was very fruitful.”
Abalos also said the PNP reported a decrease in crime rate this year compared to the same period last year. He said the public should not be alarmed by the recent attacks, adding the PNP is on top of these cases.
Abalos said there is a “good news” in one of the recent attacks against the local officials.
He said the “good news” will be announced by the PNP in the coming days.
Abalos also said the PNP is “placing the right people at the right places” after these attacks.
Azurin said, “We assure the public that we are exerting our best effort to arrest the suspects behind these attacks on elected officials.”
Abalos said there were also discussions on the need to improve laws on the sale of vehicles. He said resold vehicles should be registered by new owners immediately.
Abalos also cited the need to further intensify the campaign against loose firearms and to acquire more equipment needed in responding to cybercrimes.
