PRESIDENT Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. has expressed his full support to all plans and programs of the Philippine National Police (PNP) including its continuing modernization program this year to enable the 227,000-strong force to procure more ‘move, shoot, communicate and investigate’ equipment, PNP chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. said.

According to the top cop, the Chief Executive made known his complete support to the PNP’s modernization and reform objectives as 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 told 3rd Level Officers of the PNP during the traditional New Year’s Call on the PNP chief last week where they aired their full support to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr.’s effort 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 likewise 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 especially as they continue their intensified war on all forms of criminality, terror and corruption.

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

Since August last year, the PNP under Gen. Azurin had already acquired nearly P1.8 billion of brand-new equipment, the latest of them worth nearly P762 million worth of newly-procured police vehicles and weapons amid their continuing modernization program.

The various equipment worth P761,219,682 were successfully procured by the PNP National Headquarters Bids and Awards Committee chaired by PNP Director for Logistics, Major Gen. Ronaldo E. Olay, the Journal Group learned.

Gen. Azurin said the newly-procured police equipment were sourced under the PNP’s Capability Enhancement Programs 2019, 2021 and 2022. Maj. Gen. Olay and PNP Director for Comptrollership, Maj. Gen. Jesus D. Cambay Jr. supervised the transparent bidding for the firearms and vehicles.

The new police equipment purchased by the force under Gen. Azurin include 130 units of 4×4 Personnel Carries which have been distributed to different Police Mobile Forces and Municipal Stations with mountainous terrain and 44 units of Advance Life Support Ambulance which are now being e used by the PNP Health Service. Toyota Otis, Inc. supplied the vehicles.

A total of 1,464 All-Purpose Vest (Tactical Vest Level III-A with 2 Upgrade Plates Level 4 supplied by AHoldtech PH Corporation and Jiangsu Zhongyi Special Fiber Co. Ltd. have been distributed to ‘high-risk’ police stations in different police regional offices nationwide.

The tactical vests are now coming in handy for policemen serving warrants of arrest and conducting other anti-criminality law enforcement operations and risking their lives while confronting armed and dangerous criminals.

The R. Espinelli Trading also supplied 212 units of caliber 5.56 Negev Light Machine Guns and 8,001 units of 9mm Arex Delta Striker Fired pistols to the organization.

The machine guns have been supplied to different regional mobile forces tasked to go after communist terrorists and other lawless elements in Mindanao and other parts of Luzon and Visayas regions while the pistols are or PNP-wide use.

In August last year, Gen. Azurin also presented to the public the P969 million worth of brand-new police equipment which include motor vehicles, weapons, and other equipment to further enhance their operational readiness and capability.

“As we continue to mobilize our police units through operational plans, strategic measures, and other crime prevention and solution initiatives, I would like to note that it is also important to continuously upgrade our equipment to further strengthen our anti-criminality campaign and other field operation strategies against illegal drugs, criminality, insurgency, and terrorism,” said the top cop.

Gen. Azurin explained that the newly-procured logistics in August 2022 were sourced from fund allotments under their CEPs 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, Congress-Introduced Initiative Appropriation Fiscal Year 2021, and Trust Receipt 2018 worth P969,904,051.40.

The equipment included 10 units of 4×2 patrol jeeps, 36 units of 4×4 personnel carriers, 8,358 units of 9mm Striker Fired Pistol, 8,500 units of caliber 5.56mm basic assault rifle, 34 units of 7.62mm light machine guns, 4,900 units of 5.56mm basic assault rifle, 884 units of tablet computer, and 2,005 units of an enhanced combat helmet.

Gen. Azurin said that by boosting the national police force’s operational readiness, they will be fully able to immensely improve the performance of all their units across the country, particularly in keeping peace and order.

“Ang mga sasakyan at kagamitang ito ay napakalaking tulong sa ating mga police station upang mas lalo pa silang maging epektibo sa pagtupad sa kanilang tungkulin para sa mas maayos at mabilis na paghahatid ng serbisyo at pangangailangang pangseguridad ng ating mga kababayan,” he explained.

The PNP chief has assured the public that more ‘world-class move, shoot, communicate and investigate’ equipment for the 276,000-strong police force are coming amid their effort to provide quality service.

They include top-of-the-line protective equipment for members of the force engaged in tactical operations specifically members of the PNP Special Action Force, Drug Enforcement Group, Anti-Kidnapping Group, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and beat patrollers who always face the prospect of being confronted by heavily-armed and merciless criminals every day.

“We deeply appreciate the outlay for mission-essential equipment that is earmarked for the PNP this year to further boost the mobility, and firepower capabilities of every PNP unit from the regional offices down to municipal police stations and precincts,” he said.

The PNP chief has underscored that security and welfare of the people does not only depend on the number of police officers in the field but also with their efficiency and effectiveness armed with what is needed.

“As we mobilize the police units in the field, we must also increase the effectiveness of our police officers by giving them the necessary equipment,” he said.

The PNP chief however reminded and encouraged all police units and offices, being the recipients of all the procured equipment of PNP, to use them properly and take good care of them as these were procured from the people’s taxes.

“This is part of the ‘Malasakit program’ under MKK=K which aspires to address the external and internal issues of the organization. Every police officer must take into mind and in action our sworn duty to serve and protect our community, and this is one way of showing we care; by taking care of our equipment,” he said.

The PNP leadership also said they are procuring additional high-quality body armors and combat helmets needed not only to protect police officers and men tasked to go after criminal and terror rings in the country but also those who are manning checkpoints to arrest the presence of deadly loose weapons and explosives in the highways and streets.