PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin has succeeded in asking officials of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to secure National Police Clearance for their employees for easy identification and for their own protection too, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

After suggesting to members of the Filipino-Chinese community last week to require their would-be employees to produce their respective National Police Clearance (NPC) for easy verification of their background, the top cop said several big business have showed support to his call.

One POGO operator in Metro Manila sent words to the PNP chief that he would require his 6,000 employees to get the NPC as suggested by Gen. Azurin. The PNP chief has instructed PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management, Major Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz to coordinate the issuance of NPCs to POGO employees.

On Tuesday last week, Gen. Azurin suggested to members of the Filipino-Chinese community to require their would-be employees to produce their respective NPCs for easy verification of their background.

“We encourage that a National Police Clearance be part of the clearances which are needed to be secured by your prospective employees,” the top cop told a forum organized by the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc (FFCCCII) chaired by Henry Lim Bon Liong in Binondo, Manila.

The PNP chief was joined by PNP Director for Intelligence, Brigadier Gen. Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director, Brig. Gen. Ronald O. Lee, PNP Director for Police-Community Relations, Brig. Gen. Mario A. Reyes, PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group director, Colonel Rodolfo D. Castil Jr. and Manila Police District director, Brig. Gen. Andre P. Dizon in meeting the FFCCCII officials and members.

Gen. Azurin said he has recommended the NPC for employers since their automated system makes it easy for them to detect persons with pending criminal cases in any part of the country.

“Darating ang panahon na fully automated na kami at kahit nasa Maguindanao ka, pag punch ng name mo sa Apayao, lalabas kung me record ka sa amin,” he told his audience.

The official made the suggestion as a member of the audience asked him if they need a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance or a Police Clearance or only one of the two from their prospective employees.

He explained that an NBI clearance is good only in discovering if a person has a pending criminal case, meaning that case is already being heard by the court. “Our experience also shows that maraming tao me kapangalan sa NBI record kaya pag me hit, kailangang i-correct pa,” he said.

The NPC has been proven to be an effective way in arresting persons with warrants of arrest in the past. Hundreds of people securing Police Clearance over the years have been arrested on the spot after computer records showed they were the subject of warrants of arrest.

The NPC will show if an applicant has been involved in a major or even a minor criminal offense or if he/she is already covered with an existing warrant of arrest.

Gen. Azurin also recommended that apart from getting the NPOC, POGO operators likewise require their workers from abroad to present proof they are not wanted for criminal offenses in their respective countries or provinces.

“By complying with those requirements, the government can really ascertain that POGO workers coming here are law-abiding in their own countries and can also be law-abiding and respectful of our laws here,” he told the Journal Group.

Official PNP statistics showed that in 2016, there were 324 crimes involving Chinese nationals with 303 victims, majority of them POGO or casino-related kidnappings or serious illegal detention cases.

The number went up in 2019 with 670 suspects and 657 victims. However, Gen. Azurin said the number has been going down with 27 POGO-related kidnappings recorded so far this year.

These incidents prompted Gen. Azurin to call on the Filipino-Chinese community to feed them with information on kidnappings, drugs and other crimes involving rogue foreigners and Filipinos.

He assured that all information will be kept in utmost secrecy.

Cooperation of the public in pursuing criminals is needed since there have been many cases which went unresolved due to lack of interest of the victims or weak complaint-affidavits.

Gen. Azurin said their records will show that at least 20 victims of so-called POGO and casino-related kidnappings showed lack of interest in pursuing their cases, apparently after amicably settling their complaints with the suspects.

He added that the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order headed by Ms. Teresita Ang-See and Architect Ka Kuen Chua have been shown those records and both understand the need for victims and the Filipino-Chinese community to really support the police force in going after these criminals.