MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Magandang umaga, Malacañang Press Corps, at welcome sa ating press briefing ngayong araw, February 6, 2024.

At this morning’s sectoral meeting, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the strengthening and improvement of the Philippine National Police’ cybersecurity systems by further training PNP personnel and investing in technology to address cybercrime and cybersecurity. President Marcos stressed the need to centralize and standardize all communications systems and platforms across the PNP as well.

The order comes after PNP Chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. presented an improved national crime situation and operational accomplishments of the PNP since the start of the Marcos administration. The peace and order indicator shows a 10% decrease in crime during the period of July 2022 to January 2024 compared to the period of December 2020 to June 2022. Other areas that continue to be given serious attention are actions against illegal drugs, loose firearms, e-sabong and illegal gambling websites and communist terror groups.

To tell us more about the Marcos administration’s policies and programs in dealing with these crimes, we are joined by DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. and PNP Chief Benjamin Acorda Jr. Good morning, Secretary Abalos and PNP Chief Acorda.

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Good morning, Daphne. Well, nandirito po tayo ngayong tanghalian para ipresenta ang talagang napakagandang performance po ng Philippine National Police under po kay Benjamin Acorda Jr. ‘no, so pareho rin kami ng initials. In any case, siguro mas maganda si Chief ng PNP ang magsabi tungkol sa performance po ng Philippine National Police. Chief Ben…

PNP CHIEF PGEN. ACORDA JR.: Yes, sir. As presented earlier this morning before the President, we reported our accomplishments, although seemingly nakita natin na nag-improve iyong crime statistics – it went down by 10%, but as we dissected further these crime statistics, there is a need for us to focus on cybercrime. Iyon ang nakita natin na medyo tumaas as reported during the last quarter. And in line with that, as instructed by our President, we are intensifying, we are capacitating our police officers on the ground especially as of previously, ang ating cybercrime group is only up to the regional level lang. But this time, we are training our personnel and our objective is that down to the police station level/municipal level, we will have police officers who are trained to handle cybercrime or online crimes.

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Okay. In line with this, under the DILG is the Public Safety College ‘no. For advanced information, kung gusto mong magbumbero o kaya may mga courses sa pulis, ito po ay under the Public Safety College which is under General Sevilla. Alam ninyo po, ang humahawak ngayon ng cybercrime ay talagang, sabihin nating very technical ito eh ‘no, very specialized field. At kung minsan, let’s face it, talagang maraming nawawala, maraming pina-pirate dahil sa suweldo.

So, magkakaroon ngayon tayo sa under Public Safety College ng National Cybercrime Training Institute. So siguro by next week or the most is a month, pipirmahan ko na ito, kumpleto na ang structure nito with the board of trustees, lahat. And this will cater primarily dito sa kapulisyahan natin ‘no dahil nga tama ang sabi ni Chief – noong una dito lang sa Philippine National Police, sa Camp Crame tapos nasa regional level. So, ang pinakamoderno nito kung may magrereklamo, doon pa lang mismo sa police station. Pero hahabulin natin ang training nito, hahabulin natin ang mga kinakailangang mga gamit nito ‘no. Ang maganda dito ay talagang suportado kami ng ating mahal na Pangulo sa programang ito ‘no.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. Let’s open the floor to questions. Maricel Halili, TV5.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Hi, sir, magandang umaga po. Sir, gaano kalala iyong problema ng cybercrime in the country?

PNP CHIEF PGEN. ACORDA JR.: Well, with regards to the statistics, iyon nga, nakita natin na masyadong tumaas. But dissecting it further, iyong online or iyong mga cybercrimes committed, it’s more of iyong mga online scams. So parang, to our appreciation, it’s more of awareness for our mga kababayan or of the public about this scheming na ginagawa ng mga criminal over the internet.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: Pero, sir, identified ba natin who are the people or groups na behind these cybercrimes? Dito ba siya sa Pilipinas or from other countries?

PNP CHIEF PGEN. ACORDA JR.: Well, there are some that are outside the countries and iyong iba localized. And that’s the good thing about this registration of numbers, sa mga SIM card registration, malaking bagay po iyon. And together with the NBI, we’ve been receiving reports also about selling of preregistered SIM cards so iyon naman ang isang hinahabol natin. So malaking bagay po talaga when it comes to the establishing the identities of these perpetrators sa online through the SIM card identification, medyo nati-trace natin – nakakatulong sa pag-trace natin sa mga identities ng mga scammers.

MARICEL HALILI/TV5: And, from what countries po itong na-identify natin na scammers?

PNP CHIEF PGEN. ACORDA JR.: Well, iba-iba iyong countries but mostly localized iyong ginagawang scamming.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. Alvin Baltazar…

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Good morning, General Acorda. Sir, ano ba iyong mga top cybercrimes na committed na naitatala natin? Kahit top five.

PNP CHIEF PGEN. ACORDA JR.: Well, for the top five we have the swindling or estafa, iyan ang nangunguna; and then coming next is medyo malaki ang diperensiya, from 15,000 sa swindling and estafa, pagdating na sa illegal access, it’s only 4,000; and then identity theft, 2,000; and then online libel, mga 2,000 din; and credit card fraud, mga almost 2,000. So, those are the top five na na-record.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Sir, follow up lang. As far as cybercrime solution rate, ano iyong rate natin, sir?

PNP CHIEF PGEN. ACORDA JR.: I don’t have data right now but I can provide you. Iyon ang medyo na… admittedly, talagang ang nagiging problema natin diyan is to identify the perpetrators. Nahirapan tayo kasi nakatago especially iyong mga accounts na ginagamit are sometimes or often fictitious. But again as I said, because of the SIM card registration, malaking bagay na tulong sa atin iyan.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. Eden Santos, NET25.

EDEN SANTOS/NET25: Sir, on another issue po, regarding doon sa bomb threat sa Kamara po, ano na iyong result ng ating investigation ukol dito?

PNP CHIEF PGEN. ACORDA JR.: Yeah. It’s an ongoing investigation but we have coordination with the Congress and kay Sir [unclear], may coordination tayo diyan and we intend to beef up also and deploying our K-9 personnel there.

EDEN SANTOS/NET25: So, iyon pong anggulong political, kasama po ba sa inyong tinitingnan?

PNP CHIEF PGEN. ACORDA JR.: Well, as of now, everything is kumbaga, we are following up all lines na possible na pag-uumpisahan ng investigation.

EDEN SANTOS/NET25: Kay Secretary Abalos po. Iyon pong panukalang i-extend pa iyong martial law sa Mindanao for the third time, is it possible po or kailangan pa ba iyong panukala po na i-extend pa iyong martial or magkaroon po ng extension iyong martial law na umiral sa Mindanao?

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: I’m not so sure about that martial law issue. I’m sorry, I cannot…

EDEN SANTOS/NET25: Parang the LGUs are supporting the extension of martial law daw po in Mindanao.

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Is there a martial law in Mindanao?

EDEN SANTOS/NET25: Yeah. Pero parang…

DILG SEC. ABALOS JR.: Wala…

EDEN SANTOS/NET 25: So, wala pong ganoon?

DILG SEC. ABALOS: I don’t think so. Basta ganito lang ‘no, iyong pronouncement of martial law, it’s all in the Constitution. Pero as of now parang wala akong alam na mayroong ganoon.

EDEN SANTOS/NET 25: At hindi naman po kailangan?

DILG SEC. ABALOS: Well, the way it is ay talagang hindi naman kailangan talaga.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. Pia Gutierrez, you have question, ABS-CBN?

PIA GUTIERREZ/ABS-CBN: Hi, sir. Sir, can you give us a timeline po doon sa ating plano to have police officers trained to handle cybercrimes up to the municipal level – kailan po natin target na magkaroon nito? And pagdating po sa pagkakaroon ng infrastructure or technology, mayroon po ba tayong budget para dito?

PNP CHIEF PGEN. ACORDA JR: Well, we‘re happy to report that through the GAA 2024 kasama na iyan iyong mga IT projects and also the training of our personnel and so in line with that as we presented before the Congress during our budget hearing and we intend to really complete these cycling of trainings na ginagawa natin down to the police station this year. But I say cycle ‘no, because alam natin puwedeng sabihin natin we can probably say we are at par with other countries now but maybe after two months, three months or four months medyo kailangan mag-update na naman tayo; that’s the problem with technology talaga – very fast evolving and we have to catch up with it.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. First, Ann Soberano, Bombo Radyo.

ANALYN SOBERANO/BOMBO RADYO: Kay General Acorda, sir. Sir, follow up lang doon sa bomb threat sa House of Representatives kasi sinabi ni Secretary-General Velasco na hindi lang po isang beses natanggap iyong bomb threat kung hindi maraming beses na po. So, iyong part po ba na natukoy initially ng PNP kung sino po iyong may kagagawan, or may kinalaman ba ito sa isinusulong na Charter change at kasama po ba si House Speaker Romualdez sa mga binantaan po? Thank you.

PNP CHIEF PGEN. ACORDA JR: Well, as of now with those questions, I’ll leave it hanging muna while the investigation is ongoing. We are not closing doors doon sa all possibilities na direksiyon ng imbestigasyon. So, I leave it hanging muna.

ANALYN SOBERANO/BOMBO RADYO: Sir, last po. Doon naman sa issue ng paghihiwalay po ng Mindanao—sa panawagang ihiwalay ang Mindanao sa Pilipinas ano po ang take ninyo? May mga ginagawa po bang loyalty check ang PNP sa mga Mindanao commanders natin? Thank you.

PNP CHIEF PGEN. ACORDA JR: Well, kasama palagi ng trabaho niyan iyong pagtsi-check ng counter-intelligence, kasama sa trabaho namin iyan. And every commanders are talagang required, it’s part of their job. Now, my take is that when we took our oath as police officers or even in the positions, part of it is upholding the rule of law and the Constitution. So, talagang trabaho namin iyan and we see to it that the territory is protected.

And also on a personal note, lumaki po tayo sa field and I grew up also Mindanao as a young officer and we have our own share of iyong mga sacrifices natin diyan even to the other side noon iyong mga ibang mga kababayan natin. Ngayong natitikman na natin ang kapayapaan and as of now kinakausap ko sila, sabi nila “Let’s not go back to those days. Let’s give peace a chance.” And I think, what we have now maganda na ito, so I don’t think na guguluhin pa nila iyong sitwasyon.

DILG SEC. ABALOS: Actually, gumawa na ako ng statement about this issue of secession that napakalinaw sa ating Konstitusyon ‘no, naka-define ang ating territory itong ating sovereignty that we should always be one nation, united and undivided – we should always be like that, hindi pupuwede; at pangalawa, siguro nakita ninyo iyong mga governors na lumabas; ang BARMM governor – sila Ali Pax Mangudadatu, Bai Mariam Mangudadatu – marami na ang naglalabasan dito and they are for Mindanao themselves and even us here in the room, alam natin lahat ito that talagang hindi pupuwede ito. We’re just one nation, we are one republic. Thank you.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay Ivan Mayrina, GMA 7.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA 7: Either of them can answer. Sirs, na-tackle din po ba iyong tangkang pangha-hack sa ilang mga websites ng government agencies including that of the president’s website at ano ho ang instructions ng pangulo tungkol dito?

PNP CHIEF ACORDA: Well, actually ‘no siguro tomorrow sa DICT, si Ivan na ang mag-i-explain tungkol dito, mas nasa posisyon siya ‘no, but one thing is certain na lahat ng paraan ay talagang ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan ukol dito; the one in charge here is DICT.

PNP CHIEF PGEN. ACORDA JR: On the part of the PNP, for our data, part of it is may project na tayo diyan about the establishment of cybersecurity center and this intends to address iyong mga hacking on the part of the data ng PNP and I do believe other agencies are aligned to that objective also.

IVAN MAYRINA/GMA 7: Last na lang po. Sir, in terms of capability, where are we in terms of our ability to respond to the increasing number of cyber-attacks and considering that these cyber criminals are getting more and more sophisticated? Nasaan ho tayo, iyong realistic assessment sa kakayahan natin?

PNP CHIEF PGEN. ACORDA JR: I don’t know what kind of measurement ang gagawin natin ‘no. But with regard to iyong mataas na incidence especially on the scamming, so it’s more of awareness. I think what we are doing right now is part of it, at least matutunan ng ating mga kababayan that marami ang nabibiktima; maybe that will dissuade them.

But with regard to our capability, iyong sinasabing gamit – hindi naman tayo sobrang malayo but when it comes to technology talaga nag-i-evolve, it keeps on evolving. Maganda naman ang sharing natin, coordination with other countries – iyong mga mauunlad na bansa they train us, they train our personnel especially on the investigation sa mga transnational crimes, they are very much supportive and helpful in really training us and equipping us the necessary knowledge and skills in the conduct of investigation of such crimes.

DILG SEC. ABALOS: Actually, Ivan, right now DICT for the last several months has been coordinating with the different agencies of government para sinasabihan nila kami anong weakness and vulnerability. So, it is a good coordination between DICT and the different ano…pero mas pababayaan ko na siya mag-explain tomorrow about this.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Okay. Kyle Atienza. Please pass the mic in the back.

KYLE ATIENZA/BUSINESS WORLD: Sir, has there been a study na po on the cost of cybercrimes for the economy at least last year, sir?

DILG SEC. ABALOS: Cybercrime affecting the economy?

KYLE ATIENZA/BUSINESS WORLD: Yes, sir, the cost for the economy.

DILG SEC. ABALOS: Well, ‘di ba may…ito na lang sa worldwide I think it’s three trillion US dollars every year in the whole world ‘no – loss to cybercrimes. Naalala ko binanggit ng presidente kanina those figures, sinabi niya, naalala ko iyon. So by that alone makikita mo talagang, even before sa atin historically ang malaking krimen theft parati – theft/pagnanakaw. Na-overtake na ng cybercrime, you just imagine that ‘no.

Pero of course dapat, tama si Chief, let this be a warning to everyone, pag-ingatan ninyo po. May mga papasok diyan akala mo kamukhang-kamukha ng Facebook iyong sabihin niya “Mag-report ka sa Facebook kasi mayroon kang violation,” once mapindot mo iyong link noon, higop lahat iyon. Tapos mayroon pang iba sa telepono, sasabihin sa iyo na iyong bangko mo ay naka-receive ka dapat magaganito ka – pagtawag mo pa ito iyong kinukuwento namin, pagtawag mo may sasagot na babae akala mo talagang service center noong bangko iyon pala fake iyon – kinukuha na, hina-hack na. Kaya sa lahat ng nakikinig ngayon, mag-ingat kayo huwag kayo pindot nang pindot. Awareness is very important here sa lahat. So, it’s not only agencies of government.

As this data showed, iyong pinakita ni Chief Ben, talagang ang karamihan ay estafa ‘no, swindling and estafa, panloloko tungkol sa pera ito. At ito pa ang matindi, nasabi rin kanina iyong love scam – I don’t know if you’ve heard about the love scam ‘no. Iyong love scam, tinitingnan nila iyong to the profile kung sino iyong malungkot, nag-iisa, ano iyong music na hilig mo, ano iyong hilig mong kinakain, ganito and then iyong weakness mo doon ka pinapasok, talagang sindikato. Imagine, that love scam nagna-number one ngayon iyan ha, pinapasok nila. So, I guess ang importante rito is that everyone should be aware of all of these things kaya nga dapat siguro isa-suggest ko magkaroon ng Zoom meeting with everyone kung ano talaga itong mga different kind of scams so that everyone could be aware, lahat ng mga kababayan natin maging aware po rito. Basta huwag pindot nang pindot ha, sa link! Once pumindot kayo diyan, mahihigop po lahat.

Q: Sir, just additional question lang, sir. How is this affecting, sir, the push for the digital economy, sir? And may assurance po ba tayo, sir, for foreign think tank companies eyeing investment in the country?

PNP CHIEF GEN. ACORDA JR.: Well, for one ‘no, I would say that napakasipag ng ating pangulo, kita mo talagang ang dami nating investments ngayon ‘no; ang ganda ng ating ekonomiya. But what is important also is this kind of things ay talagang mabigyan-pansin kaagad which the government is doing right now. Iyon lang po ang masasabi ko. The way I observe things ‘no, talagang iyong mga ahensiya na talagang responsible dito, talagang ginagawa niya.

I was surprised with, Ivan, iyong presentation niya kanina. Ganoon pala kahanda ang DICT dito! But, again, let him present it tomorrow. Thank you.

DWIGHT DE LEON/RAPPLER: Hello po. Good morning. Do you have data on love scams? Like, this is necessarily new, but I think in Africa parang popular ito na they will really target people from certain countries. Pero dito ba sa Pilipinas, do we actually have data on how many have been victimized by these kinds of scams?

PNP CHIEF GEN. ACORDA JR.: Yeah, we have data. But as of now, unfortunately, medyo pinagsama-sama na iyong swindling and estafa. So, maybe if I will further dissect it, we can provide you the data.

DWIGHT DE LEON/RAPPLER: On another topic po, on the call for a separate Mindanao. Numerous government agencies have released statements in the past days on the subject. How seriously is the Marcos administration taking this call seriously in Cabinet-level discussions or meetings? And does the call actually pose a threat to the government?

DILG SEC. ABALOS: Well, napakasimple niyan ‘no. Ang linaw sa Konstitusyon, nakalatag kung ano ang Pilipinas; gaano kalaki ito; anong isla ang kasama rito. Kung mayroong gagawa at paghihiwalayin ito, I mean, lahat tayo, that’s a violation of the Constitution. Talagang ganoon kaseryoso ito ‘no, kung titingnan mo. It’s a dismemberment of the republic.

Ngayon, siguro naman nasa atin na iyan dahil, ako, when I took my oath as DILG, o kung sinumang public official, we took our oath to protect and defend the Constitution. Iyon lang ano eh, Bayang Magiliw [sic] ‘di ba, ating national anthem eh, “Ang mamatay nang dahil sa iyo,” ang pinaka-ending nito. Ano iyong “sa iyo”? It’s our country. Ganoon natin kamahal ang ating bansa! With that, I guess it’s all self-explanatory. Thank you.

DWIGHT DE LEON/RAPPLER: Sir, but was there an order from the President for different agencies to come up with their own statements rejecting this call for Mindanao?

DILG SEC. ABALOS: No, no. Definitely, walang order! Kung sino lang ang gustong maglabas, ilalabas nila. Ganoon lang iyon. So iyong mga lumalabas na iyan, talagang nagmamalasakit lang sa mga nangyayari ngayon.

SAM MEDENILLA/BUSINESS MIRROR: Regarding po doon sa mga—may na-report po kasi na si President Duterte na-mention nga po iyong possible movement for pag-secede ng Mindanao sa Philippines. May possible liability po kaya si President Duterte pagdating doon sa pag-mention ng nasabing planned secession or ano po ba, wala pa rin muna siyang possible liability kapag ganoon po?

DILG SEC. ABALOS: Well, it’s up for the Department of Justice to analyze all of these things.

SAM MEDENILLA/BUSINESS MIRROR: Tapos on another matter, sir, regarding naman doon sa El Niño. Na-mention po ng Department of Agriculture yesterday na may mga areas na raw po na medyo naapektuhan na raw po ng drought. May mga provinces na po ba parang humingi na po, nag-declare na ng state of calamity because of water shortage? At saka may order na po to release iyong calamity funds po [unclear]?

DILG SEC. ABALOS: Well, to my knowledge, wala pa naman. But I’ll get back to you and get the records. Thank you.

EDEN SANTOS/NET25: Follow-up lang po doon kay Sam. Kung labag po sa Konstitusyon iyong mga panawagan na ginagawa ni former President Duterte, is it possible na makasuhan siya ng treason or other than that – sedition?

PNP CHIEF GEN. ACORDA JR.: Well, as mentioned by our good Secretary, it’s up for the DOJ to study these things. And from there, we can get possible actions.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Secretary, General Acorda will be retiring on March 31. Extended daw kayo, General ano? Mayroon na ba kayong ipinasang short list for the possible successor of General Acorda?

DILG SEC. ABALOS: Well, wala pa naman. But I would like to congratulate General Acorda right now for doing really an excellent job, nakita naman natin how he steered the Philippine National Police. With his wealth of experience, not only he is doing an excellent job right now but likewise for the future, lahat dapat ng mga gaps ‘no. And by the way, I think the PNP Reorganization Law has been passed yesterday—yesterday ba, ‘no?

PNP CHIEF GEN. ACORDA JR.: Yes, sir, third reading, sir.

DILG SEC. ABALOS: On third reading, naiano na ‘no, so malaking bagay ito for the Philippine National Police. Ito iyong mga issues before about the number of officers, etc., about their functions ‘no. So gusto ko ring pasalamatan ang Kongreso at saka ang Senado rito. Thank you.

ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Ma’am, sorry ha, pero sundan ko lang iyong love scam. Medyo malapit na iyong Valentine’s Day, do we expect na puwedeng samantalahin ng mga loko-loko iyong Valentine’s Day para ma-fall in love lalo na doon sa mga nalulungkot.

PNP CHIEF GEN. ACORDA JR.: Yeah, it’s not a remote possibility. So, again, thank you for this and maybe, through this activity we are doing now, this press conference, maybe it will make our concerned citizens to become aware.

DILG SEC. ABALOS: Actually, ganito iyan ‘no, sa mga nakikinig—talagang puro love tayo ngayon ha. Iyong sa love scam na ito, kung minsan nakalagay iyong mga hilig mo – mahilig ka sa music, anong music, anong hilig mong sports ‘no, tapos papasukan ka nito as if kakilalang-kakila ka. Kung hindi ka naman kakilala, iyong para bang sabihin niya, “naku, pareho pala tayong mahilig sa ganito,” iyon pala napag-aralan ka na. Ganoon lang iyon.

Hindi lamang sa mga love sick kung hindi na rin sa mga namatayan ng anak, etc., sa mga biyuda, sa mga ganito, ganiyan, so all angles. Pero itong love scam, talagang … tama ka, magba-valentine na, medyo pag-ingatan lang po natin. Iyong hindi natin kakilala, pag-ingatan natin nang husto. Thank you.

ACE ROMERO/PHILSTAR: For PNP Chief ‘no. President Duterte called on the military and the police to, his term, “most correct” ‘no iyong ginagawang People’s Initiative kasi sabi niya, his words, “trabaho ninyo iyan.” So ano po iyong take ng PNP doon sa call niya to, supposedly, to correct iyong ginagawa ngayon na People’s Initiative which he called a fraud?

PNP CHIEF GEN. ACORDA JR.: Well, if you go to the Constitution, there’s nothing illegal about the People’s Initiative. There are three modes of amending the Constitution, and People’s Initiative is one. As long as there is no coercion, bribery or anything that is tantamount to violation of the law or to the intent of the Constitution, the PNP cannot come in. So hangga’t wala pang evident na culpable offense committed, the PNP cannot come in as part of upholding the rule of law and, of course, protecting the Constitution.

ACE ROMERO/PHILSTAR: So iyong mga violations, halimbawa po iyong allegation ng bribery, iyong using of resources to prod people to sign, could it be violation?

PNP CHIEF GEN. ACORDA JR.: That can be interpreted as violation. But, of course, we need evidence; we need sworn statements and other things to support such allegations.

ACE ROMERO/PHILSTAR: But unless nothing is proven, the police won’t intervene?

PNP CHIEF GEN. ACORDA JR.: We cannot. We cannot. It’s just a, I mean, exercise of the rights of the people under the Constitution.

ACE ROMERO/PHILSTAR: Salamat po.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: We’re almost wrapping up here. We have questions from Kenneth Paciente.

KENNETH PACIENTE/PTV: Hi, General. Good morning po. Sir, how can you rate crime rate or peace and order in the Philippines sa ngayon? Masasabi po ba nating mas ligtas kumpara noong mga nakaraang taon, sir?

PNP CHIEF GEN. ACORDA JR.: Based on the Gallup survey, and based on the survey, they ranked our country as the third safest country to visit in Southeast Asia. So it’s something that, maybe one of measurement in terms of public perception, not only locally but internationally.

Now, with regard to the statistics, nakita natin base sa report earlier, bumababa. So those are the measurables na nakita natin and we call it “Peace and Order Indicator Numbers” and they all improved; the crime solution efficiency went up also so ibig sabihin, mas maganda, and I attribute that to the effective coordination with the DOJ especially the implementation of the Department Order Circular #20 wherein it requires the prosecutors and the police to be actively coordinating at the earliest possible stage of crime investigation.

Also, iyong trust rating na 80% is something that the PNP can be proud of. And masasabi ko iyan, it’s happening because we act on the people’s complaints. And hindi natin pinipigilan iyan especially kapag pulis ang nirireklamo, we encourage that. Because I do believe that when we engage community, ibig sabihin ni-report na niya ang crime not only on fellow citizen but also to the actions of the police, we welcome that because that is one way of cleansing our ranks also. And, vice versa, kapag nangyari iyon, matakot din ang pulis na gumawa ng kalokohan kapag alam nila na ang kababayan natin o ang mga mamamayan natin ay isinusumbong.

So eventually, if tuluy-tuloy iyan, ang mananatili sa isang komunidad is kapayapaan, that’s how I look at it.

MS. OSEÑA-PAEZ: Thank you. I think this is a good way to end our press briefing. Congratulations, General Acorda, for the great report. And thank you, Secretary Abalos, PNP Chief Acorda. And maraming salamat, Malacañang Press Corps. Good afternoon.

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