APART from institutionalizing their programs to further reduce major crimes in the country, the Philippine National Police (PNP) this year is hell-bent on ensuring the eradication of ‘misfits and scalawags’ in the 227,000-strong force, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. said Sunday.

“While we will do everything possible to keep order and peace in our streets and communities, I will make certain that everything is in order at home as well,” Gen. Azurin said.

“Discipline must prevail at all levels of the PNP organization. As a testimony to this and by submitting our courtesy resignations, we fully support SILG (Benhur) Abalos’ call for cleansing the police force. Illegal drug users, pushers, dealers, protectors will have no place among us,” he vowed during the traditional New Year’s Call on the PNP chief in Camp Crame last Friday.

Gen. Azurin vowed that this year, they will make sure that all police measures

will further reduce crime in the country. He earlier said that lesser crimes and lesser fear of crime owing to the police’s stepped-up patrols and other massive strategies to arrest all forms of criminality in the streets have contributed significantly to improved quality of life of Filipinos.

The top cop maintained that crime in The Philippines has remained on a downtrend despite the fact that business has normalized since the start of the administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. in June last year.

Amid the government’s new tact on drugs, the PNP leadership said it has effectively ‘sustained the decline in the crime rate’ as they intensified operations particularly against such murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery and theft.

Police have bared that over the past six years, “crime incidents continually decreased” amid its assumption that people appreciate improved quality of life in a safer environment where there is less crime and less fear of crime.

Gen. Azurin confirmed they have recorded a major reduction in the country’s crime volume over the past six months.

“The past six months since July 2022 saw the country’s Peace and Order Indicator (POI) dropping by 6.37 percent or 7,178 incidents from 112,746 in 2021 to only 105,568 in 2022,” the PNP chief said.

According to Gen. Azurin, the POI decreased in Luzon by 7.35 percent and Mindanao by 12.29 percent. However, the POI in Visayas regions increased by 5.65 percent..

The top cop said that the Average Monthly POI Crime Rate also decreased by 6.34 percent from 16.72 to 15.66. Index Crimes went down by 8.03 percent or 1,701 from 21,185 compared to 19,484 since July 2022. Index Crimes decreased in Luzon by 8.43 percent; Visayas by 6.28 percent and Mindanao by 8.71 percent.

For both six-month periods, theft, rape, and physical injury registered as the top three most prevalent crimes. Apart from the three, the other Index Crimes are murder, homicide and motor vehicle and motorcycle theft.

However, Gen. Azurin said their Crime Solution Efficiency remained at a high 81.78 percent in 2022 increasing slightly from the 80.51 percent record in 2021.

Last Friday, the PNP chief called on all his 3rd Level Officers to be with him in his desire to cleanse the police force of rogues in uniform specifically those involved in illegal drugs while going all-out to keep peace and order in the country thru their stepped-up war on all forms of criminality and terror.

“I would like to begin 2023 with thankful acknowledgement of all for your strong support since I assumed command as Chief,PNP. With this, I would like to join you and the entire Philippine National Police in expressing our deep gratitude to the Good Lord above for all the blessings and even challenges of 2022 which helped bring us to where we are now,” the top cop told his officials.

The New Year’s Call on the PNP chief, held on the 1st Friday the 13th of 2023, was attended by members of the PNP Command Group, the different Directorial Staffs, the 17 Police Regional Office directors, the different directors of the National Operational and Administrative Support Units and their respective command groups and spouses.

On the same day, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary (DILG) Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr. announced that around 95 percent of the 954 star-rank officers and full-fledged colonels in the police force have already filed their courtesy resignation to President Marcos following his and Gen. Azurin’s appeal.

Gen. Azurin told his officials that President Marcos has expressed his full support for the PNP’s plans and programs this year after the organization completed a colorful and eventful 2022 highlighted by the peaceful conduct of the May national and local elections.

“It was the year that we took a more tenacious and forceful stance against crime, illegal drugs and corruption. It was a year of great unity and progress,” Gen. Azurin said amid his airing of his full support to Sec. Abalos’ efforts to thoroughly cleanse the police force of officers involved in illegal drug activities.

Gen. Azurin said they are looking forward with confidence and optimism that the PNP is now better prepared, equipped and more confident to face the challenges that 2023 may bring. The top PNP official underscored the fact that they have greatly improved their ‘move, shoot, communicate and investigate’ capabilities’ to ensure that all police functions are carried out efficiently and effectively.

He also said that their campaign against illegal drugs is likewise gaining traction thru the BIDA program of Sec. Abalos. “I firmly believe that this is the right formula to once and for all eradicate this plague,” Gen. Azurin said.

Gen. Azurin assured the country that police will continue to be on the frontlines of the government’ peace and order campaign with increased presence and patrol operations across the land.