Soria views as challenge result of survey on corruption in the PNP

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
July 16, 2013

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – The region’s top police official considers as a challenge the latest Global Corruption Barometer of the anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International labeling the Philippine National Police (PNP) as the most corrupt institution in the country.

“We must take the survey as a challenge to improve the people’s perception on us, it offers a great opportunity and room for improvement in the reform initiatives of the PNP to block corruption that has no place in the organization,” said PCSupt. Elmer Ragadio Soria, director of Police Regional Office 8.

“The PNP fully support the national government’s continuing campaign against corruption that is being vigorously addressed by President Aquino’s administration, we assure the public that concrete reform measures are underway to cleanse our ranks and improve the delivery of police service,” he added.

Soria disclosed that the issues on corruption and other concerns related to the law enforcement are already being addressed under the Peace and Order Agenda for Transformation and Upholding of the Rule-of-Law or PNP Patrol Plan 2030, the PNP’s roadmap in attaining a highly capable, effective and credible police service, as reinforced by the PNP chief’s CODE-P reform agenda that focuses on Competence, Organizational Development, Discipline, Excellence and Professionalism.

PRO8 conducted last week the Follow-Up Cascading of Enhanced PNP Patrol Plan 2030 attended by provincial and city directors and police chiefs in Eastern Visayas aimed at instilling a culture of reform and transformation to members of the organization.

Soria further informed that transparency and public accountability is the established norm in all transactions in the PNP.

An example, he said, is the recent acquisition of Glock pistols, considered the biggest procurement project in PNP history, wherein the transparent conduct of the bidding process for the handguns, with P40,940.00 market price but PNP got a better deal with the distributor that sold the guns for only P16,659.94 actual purchase price.

The PNP was able to save P200,082.954.24 from the original P1.198 billion allocation and later used in buying additional 15,000 pieces of the same brand of handgun.

He added that the PNP continue to satisfy a great majority of Filipinos with respect to the performance of their sworn duties which is to serve and protect.

Soria cited the all-time high rating in a recent performance survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) conducted during the Christmas holidays which showed that six out of 10 Filipinos were satisfied with the performance of the PNP, which garnered an all-time high 50 percent net satisfaction rating.

“The SWS survey showed that majority of our countrymen are satisfied in our performance in crime solving and protecting the people,” the police regional director averred.

Soria advised his men in the not to be distracted by the survey and instead focus on their job to serve and protect the people.