The National Police Commission has empowered governors and mayors to formulate their own policy and strategy to fight criminality in their jurisdiction.
The additional power given to local executives, according to Napolcom vice chairman Eduardo Escueta, is part of the Community and Service-Oriented Policing system to improve the state’s anti-crime prevention campaign.
Escueta said the commission en banc chaired by Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento approved last month Memorandum Circular 2015-003 which prescribed the additional functions and duties of local chief executives as Napolcom deputies.
He added that local chief executives are now authorized to formulate and adopt effective mechanisms for the coordination, cooperation and consultation involving the local executives, citizenry and law enforcement agencies.
Governors and mayors are also mandated to formulate and pursue a three-year, term-based Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan, following the guidelines and policies of the DILG, which shall be incorporated in the Comprehensive Development Plan of local government units.
They are likewise authorized to convene the Peace and Order Council quarterly, or as often as the need arises, and submit semestral accomplishment report.
“The grant of additional authority to the LCEs on top of their mandated powers and functions is intended to boost local development through a more strengthened tripartite collaboration between the local executives, the police and the community,” Escueta said.
Failure to perform the additional functions and duties shall be deemed engaging in acts which negate the effectiveness of the peace and order campaign of the country and which, once validated or established, shall be a ground for the suspension or withdrawal of his/her deputation by the commission.
Escueta said that local executives are automatically deputized as representatives of the commission in their respective jurisdiction pursuant to Section 64 of Republic Act No. 8551 (PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998).
Under Section 51 of R.A. 6975, governors have the power to choose the PNP provincial director from a list of three eligibles recommended by the PNP regional director. They are also authorized to oversee the implementation of the Provincial Public Safety Plan in their capacity as chairman of the Provincial POC.
City and Municipal Mayors are empowered to exercise operational supervision and control over the PNP units in their respective jurisdiction; develop and establish, in coordination with the local peace and order council of which they serve as chairman, an Integrated Area/Community Public Safety Plan for implementation by the local police stations; and impose disciplinary penalties for minor offenses committed by PNP members assigned in their jurisdiction.
They are also authorized to choose the chief of police from a list of five eligibles recommended by the Provincial Police Director; recommend the transfer, reassignment or detail of PNP members outside their respective city/town residences; and recommend from a list of eligibles the appointment of new PNP members to be assigned to their respective cities and municipalities.
On July 21, the Napolcom approved Resolution No. 2015-342 empowering the National Police to perform its role as a community and service-oriented agency through the adoption of CSOP system.
“The system shall encourage community and service-oriented activities in the locality and thereby gain the trust and support of the local government and the community towards better cooperation and coordination for local development,” said Escueta.
PNP records showed that theft, physical assault, and robbery were the most common crimes reported to local authorities in 2014.
Other common criminal activities include pickpocketing, confidence schemes, acquaintance scams, and credit card fraud. Carjacking, kidnappings, robberies, and violent assaults also happen sporadically.
