Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan wanted to clarify the level of criminality and lawlessness in the Philippines after the proclamation of the state of lawlessness nationwide.
Pangilinan released a statement via his website after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Proclamation No. 55, putting the Philippines under a state of national emergency following the bombing in Davao City on September 2.
Pangilinan acknowledged how Duterte, with his privileges, has access to intelligence information that would allow him to assess the condition of law and order in the country.
“Kinikilala nating merong intelligence information ang Pangulo na wala tayo; dahil dito, mas kapado niya ang kalagayan ng batas at kaayusan sa buong bansa na siyang gumabay sa kanyang pasyang magbigay ng ganoong deklarasyon (We recognize that the President has intelligence information that we do not possess that gives him a better sense of the law and order situation nationwide which we assume guided him in his decision to make such declaration),” he said.
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However, the senator pointed out how Duterte’s proclamation came after the Philippine National Police (PNP) said crime rate was reduced by almost 50 percent, so he just wanted to know the real deal about the country’s crime rate and lawless violence.
“Ibig lang nating malinawan sa tunay na kalagayan ng criminality at lawlessness sa bayan dahil noong isang linggo lang, sinabi ng Philippine National Police na bumaba na ang kriminalidad nang halos kalahati o 49 porsyento nung unang dalawang buwan matapos ilunsad ang anti-drug campaign (We would like to be clarified however regarding the actual state of criminality and lawlessness in the country considering that only last week the Philippine National Police had said that crime had in fact gone down by almost half or 49 percent in the first two months after the anti-drug campaign was launched),” Pangilinan said.
In August, PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said that as of July, the country’s crime rate has been reduced by 49 percent compared to the same date last year, concluding that this could mean drugs are among the root causes of crimes in the Philippines.
Sources: (kikopangilinan.com, newsinfo.inquirer.net, philstar.com)
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