I’M referring to the monthly Unit Performance Evaluation Rating or UPER of all 17 Police Regional Offices across the country which boost the morale of police commanders and prompt others to take a close look on why they are lagging behind others.

Yesterday, PNP chief, General Jun Azurin congratulated all the Police Regional Offices that topped the performance evaluation being made by the PNP National Headquarters and urged the others to catch up and push extra effort to be able to maintain the positive outlook of the public on the police force.

The monthly UPER parameters include measuring the implementation of discipline, law and order; conduct of recruitment and selection process; ensuring personnel morale and welfare; human resource actions on placement and promotion; management of personnel and records; and personnel plans and policies.

In my mind, the monthly performance rating particularly must focus on how each police regional office fare when it comes to enforcing the law and keeping peace and order vis-à-vis their geographical location, the number of their personnel and other resources, the political situation and the distinct character and traits of people living in their areas.

Consider this: based on tourist observations and different websites, the safest places in The Philippines are Davao City, Bohol, Baguio City, Dumaguete City, Iloilo City, Palawan, Tagaytay City and Valenzuela City. Their ranking never change, yearly survey shows and thus, police forces in these areas may be considered a cut above the rest.

But there are questions about this. No one can compare the situation in Metro Manila and Mimaropa region of course, or the situation in the other big regions like Central Luzon, Calabarzon region and Central Visayas with the situation in other Mindanao regions which is still suffering from years of neglect, economic hardships, presence of loose weapons, lawless elements and separatist groups and the New People’s Army.

Come to think of it but Batanes which is known for having a zero-crime rate will also get the bad distinction of a dismal peace and order failure if the local police will fail to solve a single property or motorcycle theft in a month-time. If that would be the case, the Batanes police force will have a zero percentage when it comes to crime solution efficiency in a particular month or even a year.

As the PNP National Headquarters released the result of their UPER of all 17 police regional offices in 2022, Gen. Azurin congratulated the top performing Police Regional Offices led by the Bicol and Calabarzon regional police offices.

The Police Regional Office 5 in Bicol region headed by Brigadier Gen. Rudolph Dimas recorded highest ratings for the months of October (96.42 percent), August (96.35 percent), January (95.68 percent), and February (95 percent).

The PRO5 which supervises all peacekeeping operations and fully enforces all pertinent laws in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon and the island-provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate emerged as the Number 1 in the PNP UPER in 2022 with an average of 93.62 percent, I learned.

Brig. Gen. Dimas, a member of PNP Academy Class 1992 took over as the Bicol police director on August 4, 2022, meaning he was behind the PRO5’s top evaluation ratings last August and October. The PRO5’s top rating in January and February 2022 was achieved when it was still under Major Gen. Jonnel Estomo of Philippine Military Academy Class 1992, now the National Capital Region Police Office director.

The Police Regional Office 4-A in Calabarzon region under Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. of PMA Class 1992 recorded the highest ratings of UPER 2022 for the months of November (97.21 percent) and December (98.21 percent ) and March (94.86 percent).

The PRO4-A has jurisdiction over the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon. It also means that the PRO4-A got the high evaluation rating in November and December last year when it was already under Nartatez who assumed the top Calabarzon post in August 2002. The March rating was made during the tenure of Brig. Gen. Tony Yarra of PMA Class 1991, now the director of the Police Security and Protection Group.

On the other hand, the Police Regional Office-Cordillera now under Brig. Gen. Mafie Bazar, another PMA Class 1992 member recorded the highest ratings for the months of June (97.05 percent), July (96.53 percent), April (95.69 percent) and May (95.59 percent).

PROCOR supervises peace and order in the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Apayao and the charted City of Baguio which is known as the Summer Capital of The Philippines. The PROCOR earned its high-evaluation ratings in April, May, June and July 2022, all during the incumbency of Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, also of PMA Class 1992, now the PNP Deputy Director for Intelligence. Bazar took over Lee on August 4, 2022.

The Police Regional Office 4-B in Mimaropa region under Brig. Gen. Sydney Hernia, another PMA Class 1992 graduate recorded highest ratings for the months of July (96.53 percent) and September 2022 (96.50 percent).

PRO4-B has jurisdiction over the provinces of Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. Hernia became the PRO4-B director on January 4, 2022.

While writing this piece, a highly-reliable source furnished me a copy of the 2022 UPER of the 17 Police Regional Offices with PRO5 emerging in the top with an average monthly rating of 93.62 percent followed by the PRO11 in Southern Mindanao under Attorney- Brig. Gen. Benjie Silo with a 92.93 percent average monthly rating.

The PRO4-A came in 3rd with a 92.84 percent average; PRO4-B at 4th with a 9283 percent average; the PRO13 formerly headed by Brig. Gen. Bong Caramat of PMA Class 1992, now the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director was t 5th place with a 92.76 percent average monthly rating.

In 6th place was the PROCOR with a 93.7 average; the PRO3 under retiring Brig. Gen. Cesar Pasiwen of PNPA Class 1994 at 7th with a 92.6 average; the PRO6 under another PMA Class 1992 member, Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco came in at 8th place with a 92.58 percent monthly average;

The NCRPO under Maj. Gen. Estomo at 9th place with a 92.45 percent average; the PRO2 now under Brig. Gen. Percival Rumbaoa of PNPA Class 1992 at 10th place with a 92.38 percent average rating; the PRO12 under Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg of PMA Class 1991 at 11th place with 92.26 percent average;

The PRO1 under Brig. Gen. John Chua, another PNPA Class 1992 member at 12th place with a 92.13 percent average rating; the PRO7 under Brig. Gen. Jerry Bearis of PNPA Class 1993 came in at 13th place with a 92.09 percent average; the PRO9 under Brig. Gen. Neil Alinsangan of PMA Class 1991 was in 14th place with a 92.07 percent average rating;

The PRO8 under Brig. Gen. Rommel Marbil of PMA Class 1991 was in 15th place with an average 92.02 percent monthly rating; the PRO10 under Brig. Gen. Lawrence Coop of PNPA Class 1991 was in 16th place with a 91.16 percent average rating while the PRO-Bangsamoro Administrative Region headed by Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon of PNPA Class 1991 came in 17th place with a 94.44 percent rating.