The
Philippine National Police in Davao City got fired up with Davao City Mayor
Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration that he will intensify the campaign against drug pushers
and perpetrators of heinous crimes in the city but the police force can improve
its efficiency with additional firearms and equipment.
“The
Mayor’s statement during his oath taking has given lots of encouragement to the
police to perform our jobs well considering that the chief executive is very
supportive,” Davao PNP Director PS Supt. Ronald dela Rosa said during Monday’s
Kapihan held at SM Annex.
However,
he said, PNP Davao’s operations would be more efficient and effective given
more resources for moving, shooting and communication. The PNP’s movement would
be enhanced if we have more patrol cars, he said.
Dela
Rosa said that at present, each PNP station has one to three units. However,
the urban stations including Stations 1,2,3,4, and 5 would be more effective
with up to six patrol cars. The outlying stations can make do with up to three
patrol cars, he said, but wished that the stations in Paquibato, Baguio,
Marilog and Toril will be equipped with 4x4 vehicles since most of the areas
here have a rough terrain.
He
said the existing patrol cars of the city are more than ten years old but are
thriving because of good maintenance. They also need radios to bolster PNP
Davao’s communication system, he added.
The
SWAT needs additional equipment like tear gas and tactical lights. He said they
also need stun grenade and long firearms that can cost up to P20 million. He
said they are thankful because they are about to receive Glock 17 pistols from
Camp Crame. He said Crame prioritized Davao City for the new generation pistols
maybe because they saw na “maganda ang performance ng PNP.”
