A TOTAL of 281 persons wanted for rape, theft, child and women abuse and sale and possession of prohibited drugs in the country have been arrested and jailed while seeking a police clearance under the National Police Clearance System or NPCS since 2018, a report to Philippine National Police chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. said yesterday.

PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management, Major Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz said that the arrest of the 281 from 2018 until October 31 this year clearly illustrates the effectiveness of the NCPC which is a web-based information system used to streamline the process of issuance of police clearance for the convenience of the public.

Based on actual records, the NPCS aided in the arrest of 281 wanted persons while applying for a National Police Clearance or NPC. Ten of the suspect were found to be wanted for rape; 5 for murder; 36 for violation of Republic Act 9262 or the anti-women and child abuse law; 30 for theft; and 11 for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Maj. Gen. Cruz described the NPCS as a comprehensive, fast, convenient and reliable system for the issuance of Police Clearance nationwide. Under the system, “all hit records of the applicant as found in the PNP crime databases will be reflected in the clearance printout with the corresponding status of such hit.’

The official said that as a result of the system, 281 wanted persons have been apprehended while seeking the National Police Clearance enabling the police force to prevent the possibility that they may commit another crime in the future.

“The NPCS actually serves as a tool in identifying wanted persons and putting them behind bars as soon as they seek the National Police Clearance from any of our police station. This actually contributes to our crime-prevention program,” he added.

A ‘streamlined and efficient way to issue police clearance,’ the NPCS is known for providing an an expeditious, equitable, comprehensive, accessible, and reliable checking of individual records.

It also supports all regulatory agencies/offices in the processing of licenses and permits and may also be used as reference for employers in the selection of their prospective employees.

Maj. Gen. Cruz said that the PNP is eager to fully implement the said system because it will provide for an efficient way to ensure that all police clearances issued are reliable, based on the real-time record of the PNP, and went through the centralized database of the PNP.

“One of the beauties of NPCS is that it provides a seamless criminal record of a person, which affects not only the peace and order situation of the country but also provides for basis for businesses and even household employment on the integrity of their prospect employees. With this, the safety of a business or a household can be guaranteed from the inside,” he said.

The PNP-DIDM said that at present, the local police clearance being issued by Local Government Units have become instrumentalities of criminals in escaping their punishments.

“Because the database of local police clearance is localized, it only retains crime data committed within their localities, which is why the police clearance they issue does not guarantee the correctness or record. This is being used by criminals to not only escape from the hands of justice but also to roam around freely and commit more crimes,” Maj. Gen. Cruz said.

“This is the reason why the country should utilize the National Police Clearance (NPC), which has a centralized database allowing criminals with Warrant of Arrest or WOAs to be detected and arrested whilst acquiring an NPC,” he added.

Maj. Gen. Cruz said that clearly, the opening of NPCS-enabled police stations will provide for more avenue where wanted criminals may be captured while applying for an NPC.

At the same time, it shall also provide funds for the PNP which will be utilized in the improvement of the capabilities of the police force particularly when it comes to ‘move, shoot, communicate and investigate.’

“This will help in the PNP’s capacity and capability building for a better investigation service and better policing,” the official said.

Gen. Azurin two months ago succeeded in asking officials of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs to secure National Police Clearance for their employees for easy identification and for their own protection too, the Journal Group learned.

After suggesting to members of the Filipino-Chinese community last week to require their would-be employees to produce their respective 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 Maj. Gen. Cruz to coordinate the issuance of NPCs to POGO employees.

Gen. Azurin likewise 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.

According to Gen. Azurin, he 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 nas 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 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 should 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.