LEGAZPI CITY -– The national leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has announced that the PNP will purchase this year P1.3 billion worth of equipment for mobility, firepower, communication and investigation.

        PNP chief Director General Avelino I. Razon Jr. made this announcement in a prepared message read for him by Director German B. Doria, Directorate for Human Resources and Doctrine Development, during the 17th PNP anniversary at Camp Gen. Simeon Ola, Legazpi City.

        The PNP chief revealed that the police agency is planning to purchase 6,000 short firearms for police officers in the field.

        “We are also acquiring more utility vehicles, troop carriers and motorcycles,” he added.

        At the same time, Razon said in his prepared speech that, because of the PNP’s crusade against criminality, there was a decrease of 7.42 percent in crime volume from 71,226 in 2006 to 65,994 last year.

        “With ‘mamang pulis and aling pulis’ taking to the streets and our heightened police presence in many areas, the monthly crime rate decreased by 9.03 percent from 6.98 in 2006 to 6.35 in 2007. Index or major crimes had also dropped by 10.87 percent from 41,576 in 2006 to 37,057 in 2007”, Razon said.

        “Street crimes have also decreased by 22 percent from the 2006 total of 6,674 to 5,206 in 2007 while kidnap-for-ransom had also dropped by 50 percent,” Razon added.

        “We have made strides in cleansing the (PNP) ranks of scalawags and “kotong cops,” he stressed.

        In his prepared speech, Razon congratulated Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 for its active support to the campaign against insurgency and terrorism in the Bicol region.

        Earlier, Doria, who represented the PNP chief, led in the awarding ceremonies. The Camarines Norte Police Provincial Office was awarded as the best PPO of PRO 5. Iriga City Police Station was best city police station while Daet Municipal Police Station was best MPS. 508th Mobile Police Provincial Group was best PPMG.

        Tabaco City Women and Children Police Desk Best WCPD (urban) while Daraga WCPD was best WCPD (rural).

        In his brief message, Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda BPOC chairman, said: “You are my constituents, my partners and my family. My job is to provide you with conducive map to economic development.”

        A memorandum of agreement (MoA) between Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Sodusta, commander, 9th Infantry Division, PA and Senior Supt. Roberto Timog Bondoc, officer-in-charge of PRO 5, was signed pursuant to Executive Orders 110 and 546 which direct the PNP to actively support the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the internal security operations particularly against insurgency.

        In the afternoon, Doria officiated in the turnover ceremonies of two school buildings donated by PNP personnel to Gogon Central School, Legazpi City and Guinobatan East Central School.