PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said the majority of policemen will be deployed in the streets and communities across the country as a preventive measure against crime incidents, especially during the “ber” months.“Kailangan po ay ilabas po natin ang karamihan ng ating kapulisan lalo na po dito sa Metro Manila, sa Region 3 (Central Luzon), sa Region 4-A (Calabarzon), even sa mga metro cities like Cebu, Baguio City nang sa ganun ay nakikita po nila ang pulis and we really need to build relationship with the community para nang sa ganun sila na rin po nakikipagtulungan sa atin. Then ‘yung mga mobile forces po natin idedeploy po natin,” he said in a radio interview on Saturday, September 3, 2022.(We need to bring out the majority of our police especially here in Metro Manila, in Central Luzon, in Calabarzon, and even in metro cities like Cebu and Baguio City so that police are visible. We really need to build a relationship with the community so that they can cooperate with us. We will also deploy our mobile forces.)In a statement, Azurin said they are keeping an eye on incidents committed against women including students.From July 1 to August 31, 2022, 149 crimes including rape, acts of lasciviousness and violation of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 were recorded in the country.The top cop, however, said that crime incidents are on a downward trend with 5,237 reported crimes from July 1 to August 25, 2022 from 5,929 from the same period in 2021.Azurin urged the public, especially women and students, to always be cautious and vigilant about their surroundings.He reiterated the PNP’s commitment to the public as well as to the Department of Education to put the safety and welfare of the students among their top priorities and to resolve cases reported to the different police stations.Azurin said the PNP is continuously upgrading its investigative skills to ensure that each case is being handled accordingly.In 2021 alone, 4,326 personnel graduated under a recapitulation program for case handling. Currently, retraining of some 16,000 investigators and evidence custodians is underway.“This retraining program is a reinforcement to better capacitate our personnel and to boost their morale despite the extensive requirements in filing cases in the judiciary,” Azurin said.He also ensured that the organization maintains a zero-tolerance policy to breach of discipline and irregularities committed by wayward personnel.”We really need the cooperation of all sectors in the community. Sabi ko nga ay pagtulong-tulungan natin na sugpuin ang krimen sa ating barangay. At the end of the day, pulis ang magle-lead at magpapatupad ng batas para sa kaayusan at katahimikan ng ating lugar,” Azurin said.(We really need the cooperation of all sectors in the community. Let us all help each other to suppress crime in our barangay. At the end of the day, the police will lead and enforce the law for order and peace in our area.)“We always strive to provide the most credible service to the general public. Their confidence is the bastion of our duty to fight against injustices and eradicate criminality. Thus, for this to happen, we have to ensure that we possess the value of trustworthy law enforcers,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)