Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. cautioned law enforcement personnel on Monday against becoming overconfident, even as the nation sees a steady decrease in focus crime incidents.
Speaking at a Camp Crame flag-raising ceremony, Nartatez explained that the declining crime numbers ought to motivate officers to double down on their duties to preserve peace and protect communities.
Data from the PNP shows that focus crimes across the country dropped by 20.6 percent after the implementation of the Safer Cities Initiative, a flagship security program of the Marcos administration.
Even with this progress, the top cop reminded the force that bringing justice to victims of crime remains a continuous duty for the police service.
”These gains should never make us complacent. Every crime that occurs is one too many. Every victim deserves justice and every police officer must remain ready to respond with urgency, professionalism and compassion,” Nartatez said.
He clarified that the goal of the PNP goes beyond just keeping crime statistics low; it is fundamentally about fortifying national public safety.
”Our challenge is not simply to sustain these gains, but to build on them,” he said.
In a prior statement, Acting PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Allen Rae Co pointed out that high-profile incidents, such as violence near schools and fatal attacks on motorcycle taxi riders, heavily influence how the public perceives crime.
Co acknowledged that these specific cases often capture heavy media attention, but re-emphasized that the PNP is dedicated to tackling every type of lawlessness while staying professional and prepared to handle emergencies and criminal activities.