PRESIDENT Aquino attended on Thursday the 37th Philippine National Police Academy commencement exercises appealing to the new graduates to shun corruption especially with the upcoming May election.
In his speech during the event, the President said uniformed personnel will once again face the temptation in the coming election and asked the graduates to do what is right.
“Uulitin ko ang hamon ko sa bawat pagkakataong humaharap ako sa mga guma-graduate tulad ninyo: Kung abutan kayo ng sobre kapalit ng inyong dangal, magpapabili ba kayo?,” he asked.
“Kung may napangakong promotion kapalit ng inyong pananahimik, sa harap ng katiwalian o pang-aabuso, tatanggapin ba ninyo? Kung pinapili kayo: bayan o sarili, alin ang uunahin ninyo?”
But he said he expects this year’s PNPA graduates will stick to the righteous path that his administration has spearheaded.
Uniformed personnel will be mandated to ensure an orderly and peaceful election this May, telling the PNPA graduates to obey the orders of their superiors, adding there are other dedicated personnel who gave their utmost services unconditionally.
Now that the cadets will be joining their respective services, the President said part of their daily lives as members of the uniformed services is facing a crossroads each day.
“Bilang kasapi ng PNP, BJMP, at BFP, higit pa sa ibang mga kawani ng pamahalaan, kayo ang magsisilbing mukha ng gobyerno sa ating mga komunidad,” he said.
“Napakalaki ng papel na ginagampanan ninyo sa pangangalaga at pagsasaayos ng ating lipunan. Kayo ang takbuhan, ang sumbungan, ang frontliner sa panahon ng pangangailangan.”
“Tiwala akong sa lahat ng pagkakataon, magsisilbi kayong mga tapat na lingkod-bayan; lagi kayong papanig sa tama at makatwiran; lagi ninyong paglilingkuran ang ating mga Boss, ang sambayanang Pilipino.”
The President also mentioned the reforms initiated in the PNP under the Daang Matuwid agenda, achieving 1:1 police-to-pistol ratio. In 2013, the government distributed 74,879 units of Glock 17 9mm pistol for PNP personnel.
It also provided 1,490 patrol jeeps, 247 4×4 personnel carrier and 69 light transport vehicles, 1,095 motorcycles, as well as 12,949 handheld radios.
To fight crime, the PNP adopted modern Integrated Ballistics Identification Systems as well as Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems.
The PNP also installed Closed-Circuit Television Projects to crime-prone areas in Metro Manila to prevent crimes. He said he already asked PNP chief Ricardo Marquez to provide police personnel with raincoats during the rainy season so they could do their jobs more effectively.
For the BJMP, the government released P393 million to buy high caliber firearms, portable radio systems, and prisoner vans, the President noted. For the BFP, the administration allocated P4.46 billion to procure new fire trucks, firemen suits and protection as well as self-contained breathing apparatus.
Through an executive order, the government also augmented the monthly hazard pay of uniformed personnel from P240, it was adjusted to P390 this year, according to the President.
“Saklaw din ng EO na ito ang pagtaas ng inyong provisional allowance depende sa ranggo, kung saan may makakatanggap ng hanggang P14,214, at ang officers’ allowance para sa mga Senior Inspector pataas,” the President said
“Pati pabahay para sa ating mga kawal at kapulisan, talagang tinututukan natin yan. Higit sa 61,300 units na po ang nakumpleto sa ilalim ng programang pabahay natin para sa ating unipormadong hanay, at kasama ang mga kasapi ng PNP, BJMP, at BFP sa benepisyaryo po nito,” he added. PND
