The Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law
enforcement agencies implemented various programs, projects
and activities to attain peace and order in the region.
Various campaigns were carried out which resulted to the
crime solution efficiency rate of 91.23. Shortage in the
basic equipment and facilities though remained a problem.
Despite of the efforts, the resolution of cases remained a
perennial problem with the low disposition rates due to the
lack of prosecutors, judicial branches and judges. Of the
13,927 cases for preliminary investigation handled by the
Regional Prosecutor’s Office, 91 percent were disposed. Of
the 39,721 criminal cases handled, 35 percent were disposed.
The Philippine Army gained ground with its internal security
operations efforts with the significant reduction of both
violent and non-violent enemy activities by 22.46 percent
and 49.94 percent, respectively.
II. Assessment
Law
Enforcement Pillar
In 2008, the crime incidence increased by 25.44 percent.
The crime solution efficiency (CSE) rate was 91.23 percent
which was 2.51 percent higher than in 2007. This CSE rate
is close to the updated plan target of 92 percent.
Several campaigns against lawlessness were conducted to
maintain peace and order in the region. On campaign against
illegal drugs, 89 operations were conducted. A total of 106
suspected drug personalities were arrested, 31 pushers and
75 users. There were 68 drug-related cases filed in court.
On campaign against loose firearms, 151 firearms were
confiscated and recovered (64 high powered and 87 low
powered firearms). A total of 112 persons were arrested and
84 cases were filed in court due to illegal possession of
firearms. The intensified campaign against criminal gangs
resulted to the neutralization of 22 newly identified
criminal gangs. Two criminal gangs included in the regional
target list, “TUY Gang” and “Rotia Gang” were neutralized.
On campaign against wanted persons, 8 regional, 2
provincial, 48 city/municipal and 1,251 other wanted persons
were accounted.
There were 108 positive operations against illegal gambling.
With this, 215 persons were apprehended. The confiscated bet
money amounted to Php52,613.80. The number of cases filed in
court totaled to 87.
A total of 4,145 law enforcement operations were conducted
by the PNP units in support to the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) Internal Security Operations (ISO). These
were either done independently or jointly with the AFP
elements which resulted to 15 encounters with communist
terrorist (CT) group. These operations resulted to the
recovery of 25 high and low powered firearms. In the
implementation of LOI Cattleya which is the legal offensive
against insurgents, a total of 68 various cases were filed.
Through the ADARNA and MAYA COSTA special intel projects, 65
CT members were neutralized and 73 firearms were recovered.
The occurrence of bombing and harassment activities of
communist terrorists in other parts of the country prompted
the PNP to enhance unit security and defense. It conducted
530 security surveys and inspections of PNP units and other
government installations Crisis management committees were
maintained at the regional, provincial, city and municipal
levels. Two memoranda of agreement were signed by the PNP:
(1) with various agencies on security of Matnog Port and
security of vessels underway; and (2) on strengthening
internal security in Bicol with the AFP.
The responsibility of counterinsurgency does not solely rest
with the Armed Forces. With the issuance of Executive Order
739, the peace and order councils were reorganized to
include counterinsurgency as one of the main tasks of local
government units and executives. This is in relation with
the goal of the government to defeat the communist rebels by
2010.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
5, being the head of the regional and local POC
secretariats, issued memorandum circulars urging provincial
to the municipal LGUs to convene and strengthen their POCs
and ensure that programs, projects and activities on public
safety and peace and order and anti-insurgency are
efficiently and effectively implemented in every barangay.
In CY 2008, 120 LGUs organized their LPOCs.
In terms of PNP personnel development, the PNP Regional
Office 5 continuously implemented in the Provincial Police
Offices the Integrated Transformation Program. A total of 31
scholars were assisted under the College PNP-CHED Financial
Assistance Program and 1 scholar for High School Kaagapay sa
Pangarap Foundation. Several trainings were likewise
conducted to PNP personnel which included 46 logistics
training and seminars, and 18 explosive detection and
awareness trainings among others.
With the marked decrease in the applicants for Police
Officer 1 (PO1) during the year, NAPOLCOM issued Memorandum
Circular (MC) No. 2008-003. With the two PNP Entrance and
Promotional Examinations administered by NAPOLCOM Regional
Office 5, only 268 passed out of the 2,370 new examinees and
227 out of the 1,468 police officers, inspectors and
superintendent vying for promotion.
The PNP Regional Office 5 appointed 435 Police Officer (PO)
1 in the service. A total of 956 personnel were promoted, 80
percent of which was advancement to PO 2. There were also
1,528 PNP personnel transferred and reassigned to Police
Provincial Offices.
The PNP Regional Office 5 has a total strength of 5,578 POs.
Despite this number, the policeman to population ratio is
pegged at 1:928 which is better than the 1:1000 standard
ratio but way short of the Plan target of 1:500 by 2010.
Based on the Physical Inventory of PNP 5 Assets and
Properties by the NAPOLCOM, there were 2,716 and 3,556 short
and long firearms, respectively. There were however 2,631
uniformed personnel who were not issued with firearms. Of
the 157 PNP offices/units, 14 did not have communication
equipment and 18 offices/units did not have vehicles thereby
affecting their mobility.
Prosecution
Pillar
The Regional Prosecutor’s Office handled 13,927 cases for
preliminary investigation in 2008. Out of this, 91 percent
were disposed. It handled 21,307 criminal cases for trial
at the Regional Trial Court, of which 5,961 were disposed
and 15,346 are pending. Municipal Trial Court handled 18,414
criminal cases of which 7,865 were disposed and 10,549 are
pending. For both Courts, the disposition rates were low at
28 percent and 43 percent, respectively. For cases referred
by other offices such as the Civil Service Commission,
Ombudsman and the Commission on Election, disposition rate
remained low at 32 percent having disposed 819 cases out of
the 2,582 cases handled.
The low disposition rate can be attributed to the lack of
prosecutors who could provide the service to speed up the
resolution cases and the insufficient number of judicial
branches and judges in the region.
Corrections
Pillar
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Regional
Office 5 repaired 12 jails. Despite these improvements,
below standard living conditions and overcrowding in jails
remained a problem. The typical jail cell in the region
measured 5x4 square meters which accommodated from 18 to 24
inmates. This was a very poor state compared to the ideal
floor space to inmate ratio of 3x3 square meters per
inmate.
In order to strengthen the rehabilitation programs for
prisoners, the BJMP Regional 5 continuously provided the
jail and prison inmates with their basic needs with Php1,
500.00 per month allocation per inmate. Behavioral
development activities were also made available through
spiritual, livelihood, educational, guidance and counseling,
physical fitness and recreational services.
Income-generating activities were conducted through the
Inmates Welfare and Development Program with the involvement
of NGOs and civic organizations. The Alternative Learning
System was also put in place in several jail facilities in
the region.
Seven batches for refresher courses were given to 150 BJMP
personnel to elevate the quality of jail services.
Paralegal services were provided to the inmates under its
decongestion program. Although 290 inmates were released,
greater number was admitted with a total of 388 inmates. The
jail guard to inmate ratio of 1:24 is way behind the 1:7
target in the updated plan by 2010.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) visited
43 jails to ensure compliance to set standards on the
conditions of inmates. The CHR conducted a seminar to update
the personnel on security, safeguarding and rehabilitation
of prisoners/detainees on human rights laws.
Community
Pillar
In strengthening the barangay justice system, the DILG
ensured the organization of the Lupong Tagapamayapa in all
LGUs in the region. Out of the targeted 3,471 Lupong
Tagapamayapa, 3,147 were organized.
To generate community partnership for the promotion of peace
and order, PNP Regional Office 5 undertook several
activities. It conducted 7,184 school-based projects and
6,177 church-based projects. PNP conducted the Project BARYA
( Barangay Yaman) to stop the patronage of illegal gambling
activities. A total of 2,585 awareness and networking
activities were initiated. There were 1,827 coin banks
distributed and 22 dispersal projects. It organized the
Councils of Community Elders (CEEs) which acted as the link
of the community in extending support to the police in the
maintenance of peace and order. For CY 2008 it organized one
regional, six provincial, 114 city/municipal and 86 barangay
CEEs.
NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular 200-13 set the guidelines and
procedures on the deputation of barangay tanods as members
of Police Auxiliary Units (PAUs) and deployment of PNP
uniformed members as supervisor of PAU members. The PNP
utilized 5,944 barangay tanods in the conduct of police
visibility operations and other crime prevention activities.
It also involved 5,251 security guards and 8,411 anti-crime
groups. NAPOLCOM, in collaboration with the Department of
Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd)
assisted in organizing 59 Student Crime Prevention
Committees (SCPCs) during the Bicol Youth Congress in
September.
For LGU initiative, the Anti-Drug Abuse Council of Legazpi
City conducted 80 information and education campaigns in
schools, including those in far flung barangays leading to
the creation of the Student Crime and Prevention Communities
and Youth Anti-Drug Abuse Councils, and strengthening of
Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils in 70 barangays.
Based on the records of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
Regional Office 5, 36 of the 87 cases on human rights
violations in 2008 were due to police abuses. This was
followed by the New People’s Army (NPA) which committed 26
violations.
The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Regional Office 5
investigated administrative complaints on police anomalies
and irregularities and recommended for summary dismissal
proceedings, for referral to People’s Law Enforcement Board
(PLEB) and for appropriate action. It also conducted
dialogues with the National Support Units (NSUs) of the PNP
to provide updates on the issuance of Memorandum Circular
2007-001. The MC states the rules on the just and
expeditious disposition of administrative complaints and
cases against PNP members. A free legal assistance program
for uniformed members of the PNP through the Regional Legal
Assistance Unit (RLAU) was likewise activated by the
Commission.
Close coordination of CHR Regional Office 5 with the
security forces, DOJ, PAO and judiciary of the Philippines
paved the way to the resolution of some of the human rights
violations. These violations were investigated and filed
with appropriate criminal, civil and administrative cases.
For some, reasons for delayed investigation or withdrawn
cases were: (1) insufficient funds /logistics particularly
for extra-judicial killings; (2) reluctance of witnesses due
to fear and threat; (3) economic concerns or poverty; (4)
lack of uniform procedure in the conduct of alternative
dispute management; (5) delay in the processing of request
for forensic examination at CHR Central Office; and (6)
delay in the acceptance in the DOJ’s witness protection
program. Major HR investigations conducted by CHR Regional 5
were the following: (1) special fact-finding mission at
Barangays Taloto, Mabunga and Panoypoy, Camalig, Albay; (2)
negative effects of mining operations in Rapu-Rapu, Albay;
(3) deprivation of water supply of 28 families at Inarado,
Daraga, Albay; and (4) demolition of Victory Village.
Advocacy efforts on the promotion of human rights included
conduct of 27 seminars and orientation for the vulnerable
sectors and 22 seminars and trainings for PNP and AFP
members, paramilitary and law enforcement agencies such as
CIDG, NBI, BJMP and Traffic Management Group. Series of
2-day Barangay Human Rights Action Center (BHRAC) Capacity
Trainings were likewise conducted to the LGUs of Metro Naga.
In CY 2008, 292 BHRACs were established. BHRACs serve as the
human rights protection and promotion centers at the
barangay level.
In terms of provision of free legal services, the Public
Attorney’s Office (PAO) Regional Office 5 represented
indigents in 19,978 judicial and quasi-judicial cases (Table
25.1). More than 50 percent of these cases, except for the
Prosecutor’s Office cases, remained pending at the end of
the year. The PAO has 55 lawyers in 2008 wherein average
number of cases handled were 261 for criminal, 43 for civil,
10 for administrative, 40 for prosecutor’s office and 42 for
labor cases.
PAO Regional Office 5 handled mediation and conciliation
cases resolving 92 percent of 8,632 cases. It has likewise
provided inquest investigation and custodial interrogation
services to 1,248 clients and legal services to 18,394
prisoners through its jail visitation program.
Financial assistance was also extended to 44 victims of
human rights violations through the Commission on Human
Rights Regional Office.
Internal
Security
The 901st Infantry brigade, 9th
Infantry Division of the Philippine Army launched its
campaign plan which resulted to the conduct of 46 government
initiated encounters and 16 raids. A total of 32 high
powered arms and 47 low powered firearms were recovered.
Further, a total of 144 personalities were neutralized.
The Brigade has set up Barangay Intelligence Nets wherein
the main intelligence assets were equipped with means of
communicating directly with tactical forces on the ground.
The Brigade, with its subordinate units, recorded 2,270
various intelligence activities. One of the major
accomplishments was the capture of two top ranking CPP/NPA
leaders in Albay and Sorsogon.
On Civil Military Operations (CMO), the Brigade adapted the
4S concept which is social awareness, social involvement,
social empowerment and social mobilization. Its implementing
strategy was the 6Ks4B Program which united all stakeholders
by focusing on Kapayapaan (Peace and Stability), Kalusugan
(Health), Kalinga (Welfare), Kakayahan (Capability),
Kalikasan (Environment) and Karunungan (education). A total
of 5,605 psychological operations, 3,922 public affairs and
5,390 civic affair activities were undertaken by the
Brigade. It has also invigorated the TG TIWASAY for white
area operations, created the CMO Coordinating Committee and
conducted continuing advocacies on cooperation management
for the integrated territorial defense system (ITDS)
components and integrated area and community public safety
plan (IA/CPSP). Community-based Organizing Committees were
created and mobilized in support to the Internal Security
Operations (ISO) efforts of the Brigade. The Area
Coordination Centers were formed to address the immediate
security and crisis management concerns at the provincial
level. Radio programs were enhanced for more effective
information campaign.
The implementing rules and regulation on the MOA forged
among 9ID,PA and PRO5, PNP regarding the joint undertaking
in the implementation of ISO-related activities were
formulated which defined the areas to be covered by both on
addressing issues on insurgency, crime prevention, public
safety and security.
The increased and sustained tempo on combat operations,
implementation of various CMO initiatives, plans, programs
and activities, strengthened integrated territorial defense
system components and continuing support of stakeholders
made the Brigade progress in its internal security
operations. The violent and non-violent enemy activities
decreased respectively by 22.46 percent and 49.94 percent.
Thirty eight school buildings, 27 water systems and 15 farm
to market roads were completed under the Kalayaan Barangay
Program (KBP) in the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon . These
projects amounted to approximately PhP66 million. The KBP
is part of the government efforts to overcome insurgency by
enhancing the convergence between civilian agencies and
military-police establishments.
