By Brian Campued
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGen. Nicolas Torre III on Wednesday assured the public that cops will respond to 911 calls in the National Capital Region (NCR) in five minutes, pursuant to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to increase police visibility and ensure immediate response to reports.
In a Palace press briefing, Torre said that the quick response time will further be reduced to three minutes within three months, “Sa NCR, five minutes muna ‘no. So, huwag ninyo na kaming hanapin sa mga presinto sapagkat kami ay nasa inyo nang mga telepono. Dial 911, kami ay darating sa loob ng limang minuto,” he said.
The PNP Chief also disclosed that some police boxes and police community precincts (PCPs) will be deactivated as officers are expected to receive and respond to reports through the 911 emergency hotline, noting that these facilities often lack the proper equipment and resources to handle cases.
“So, rather na sila ay magtatambay diyan, isasarado natin,” Torre said. “Sila ay maglalakad sa kalsada or sasakay sa kanilang mga mobile at ang pinaka-bottom line, palagi silang may mga radio.”
‘Huli, hindi patay’
Torre likewise clarified that his order to increase arrest of criminals is aimed at eliminating threats in the community, stressing that his “paramihan” challenge to cops goes beyond improving crime statistics and is focused on making people genuinely feel safer.
“Walang quota. Ang measure diyan is iyong reduction and elimination of the threat in our community, iyong pag-alis ng kriminal,” he said.
“Ako ay naniniwala, iisa lang naman ang paraan para mapatahimik natin ang ating mga pamayanan. Isa lang ang paraan para mawala ang criminality diyan, para maging ligtas at maging safe ang ating pamayanan, iisa ang paraan: Alisin ang kriminal sa ating community. Priority, alisin ang kriminal sa kalsada.”
The PNP Chief also assured the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that he ordered the entire police force to strictly uphold human rights and due process by arresting criminals, not by killing them.
“Uulitin ko, buhay ang tao na huhulihin,” Torre emphasized. “Walang patay, and we will not condone wanton killings or wanton murders.”
He added that the PNP will closely work with the CHR to address concerns of police abuse while ensuring transparency in their operations, urging complainants to seek assistance from relevant authorities if they believe they were arrested without any legal basis.
“We will liaise with them; we will talk to them at gawin natin silang partners na kapag mayroong abuso ang pulis, we will very, very much welcome the investigation to be launched by the CHR. Open sila, so isa silang ahensiya na puwedeng dumulog ang mga hinuli ng pulis—o mga kamag-anak nila—ng mga sinasabi nilang feeling nila ay inaresto sila ng pulis na walang basehan,” Torre said.
“So, we’ll be asking the CHR and we will partner and we will fully cooperate with the CHR kung anumang mga dokumento ang kanilang kailangan para sa pag-iimbestiga ng mga reklamong makakarating sa kanila regarding sa illegal arrest.”
He also warned cops who might attempt to plant evidence on suspects to justify arrests, “Kapag ginawa nila, idi-dismiss ko sila sa serbisyo, ikukulong ko sila for incriminatory machinations.”
-jpv
