VERZOSA HUNTS NARCO-COPS AS PNP LOGS FEWER INDEX CRIMES THIS YEAR

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa
yesterday reported a "marked decrease" in the number of index crime cases
particularly murder, homicide and physical injury this year compared to
year 2007.

In a press conference at Camp Crame, Quezon City, Verzosa said the
incidence of index crimes for the past 11 months of 2008 decreased by 1.3
percent, with corresponding single-digit declines in the number of cases
involving murder and physical injury.

But the PNP saw a 14.11-percent dip in the number of homicide casesin 2008.

"In our own analysis, the marked decrease in the number of index crime
cases, particularly murder, homicide and physical injury are indications
of an effective crime prevention strategy primarily thru increased police
visibility, downloading of more personnel to field units and swift
response to incidents," the PNP chief said.

Verzosa presided a year-end command conference at the PNP National
Headquarters, which was attended by police officials from the PNP
directorial staff and the different national support units, regional
offices, provincial offices and other field units for an assessment on the
performance of the police forces in various aspects of law enforcement and
public safety operations.

"The past 11 months was generally better compared to the same period last
year. Although there is a 1.45-percent increase in total crime volume,
much of this increase is attributed to non-index-crime cases which made up
45.35 percent of all recorded crimes," he pointed out.

Verzosa also disclosed that the slight increase of 4.9 percent in
non-index crimes was a result of the police's intensified enforcement of
special laws on illegal gambling, illegal logging,
intellectual-property-rights violations, crimes against public morals and
other less serious criminal offenses.

He explained that every report of a non-index crime case was a result of
an arrest or seizure of items involved in the violation of the special
laws.

As this developed, Verzosa also assured the cooperation of the PNP
leadership in the campaign of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA) in ridding the police organization of personnel involved in illegal
drug trade.

"Just like the PDEA, the PNP is dead serious in performing its role in the
campaign against illegal drugs. And we are committed to run after suspects
engaged in the illegal drug trade, including our own personnel who are
involved directly or indirectly in trafficking of illegal drugs," Verzosa
emphasized.

Verzosa's statement was in response to the allegation by PDEA Director
Gen. Dionisio Santiago that some police officials are acting as protectors
of illegal drug syndicates who are now targets of operations by their
agency.

"We are faced with the phenomenon of 'narco-terrorism,'" police Director
Gen. Jesus Verzosa said in a statement to news agencies.

He cited the "involvement of some domestic threat groups in the production
and trafficking of illegal drugs," including the communist New People's
Army (NPA) and the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group.

"It is a fact that some of the largest marijuana plantations we have
discovered are maintained by the (NPA) in the hinterlands," Verzosa said.

"In some parts of the Southern Philippines, the ASG has been known to be
behind the distribution of shabu," he said, referring to methamphetamine
hydrochloride.

"It cannot be denied that these groups derive revenue from these illicit
activities to fund their operations," he said, without elaborating.

The 5,000-member NPA has been waging a 40-year Maoist guerrilla campaign
while the Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for some of the country's worst
terrorist attacks including bombings and kidnappings.

Verzosa said the police were concerned by the potential influence of drug
money in politics as well as in the corruption of police officers.

"We are committed to run after suspects engaged in the illegal drug trade,
including our own personnel who (may be) involved directly or indirectly
in trafficking of illegal drugs," he added.