Plagata to cops: Win back people’s trust and confidence
City Councilor Erwin Plagata, chair of the committee on police matters, public order and safety of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, said the most effective way to combat all forms of criminality especially the Basag Kotse Gang is for the police to win back the trust and confidence of the people. The motivation, drive and attitude of police towards their works should better be reviewed, he said.
In a radio interview, Plagata said once the police gained the trust and confidence of the citizenry, the information will just flow which could help them in solving the crimes. He said the citizenry is hesitant to cooperate with the law enforcers given the problems on police credibility and response towards the people. “They should win back the trust and confidence of the community,” Plagata asserted.
Plagata’s view was in relation to the number of unsolved Basag Kotse operations in the city, indicating the failure of the police in solving the crime. It’s like the police are looking for a needle in a haystack when it comes to gathering valuable information which could lead to the arrest of the suspects.
Since, February of 2009, there are some 28 Basag Kotse recorded cases in the various police stations under the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO). The incidents of Basag Kotse continued even with the reported arrest of several suspects. It happened in the churchyard, parking areas of malls and supermarkets.
Plagata said the cooperation of the citizenry is very important in solving problems such as the Basag Kotse. The city has provided the city police with logistical and financial support to make them effective in their drive against criminality. “What more they need in winning the campaign?” Plagata asked.
The support ranges from gasoline, patrol cars, firearms and radio equipment. The city also resorted in giving cash rewards to police stations which have effected the arrest of suspected Basag Kotse Gang members, he said.
Plagata said the reward system made it appear cops become “ordinary bounty hunters.” Though, it is their mandate to run after criminals. They have to reexamine their work. “The motives, drives and attitudes of the police towards their work could be resolved alone by the PNP organization.”
The recommendation to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitors is only a tool. The arrest of the suspects is the most important thing in solving the problem. A Basag Kotse incident was captured by a CCTV monitor and yet nothing positive came out, said Plagata.
It will still go back on the drive and motivation of the police in preventing and solving the crime. The police should check whether they are doing the right approach or of they are still in the right direction, he said.