In a radio interview, Director Alan Purisima, the PNP chief of directorial staff, said intelligence reports reaching him said that a number of politicians or their supporters are now establishing contacts with identified private armed groups and "import" them to their provinces in time for next year's polls. "Marami ang reported na ang hina-hire ng mga politicians (na PAGs) ngayon ay doon na nanggagaling sa ibang lugar. For example, yung taga-Ilocos pupunta sa ibang lugar ng Luzon like Cavite , Batangas or Laguna. Ang Cavite naman pupunta sa ibang lugar. Palitan lang minsan. Yan ang mga PAGs na yan ang mga dangerous na grupo," Purisima said. Purisima said the Directorate for Intelligence is continuously validating the number of PAGs nationwide.

The PNP chief and National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Alan LM Purisima earlier allayed public fears of a growing crime wave in Metro Manila as both officials said that the PNP is addressing the concern more effectively and with efficiency. He has ordered his high command to take appropriate actions to address the matter as he vowed to go after the heads of police commanders who will fail to stop criminality particularly involving motorcycle-riding assassins and thieves in their jurisdiction. Last year, he ordered the PNP Quad Staff to initiate action and address the situation with urgency and effect.

Fire guns and be fired -- Purisima MAMANG PULIS -- NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office chief, Director Alan LM Purisima, yesterday reiterated the Philippine National Police's strict policy on indiscriminate firing of guns to welcome the New Year, warning that those who will be caught violating the directive in Metro Manila will be immediately arrested, jailed and charged. "There will be no ifs and buts here. Anybody who will be found to have fired his weapon indiscriminately, whether he is a member of the PNP or other law enforcement agencies or a civilian, regardless of his stature or position in society will be arrested, jailed and charged in court," Purisima said, noting several deaths and injuries caused by stray bullets over the past years. The NCRPO early this month led the ceremonial "muzzling" of guns of NCRPO officers and men during ceremonies held at the NCRPO Headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City. He emphasized that the taping of the muzzle of the gun of a member of the NCRPO is neither a form of restriction on the use of the firearm nor a sign of distrust on the part of police commanders but a show of their commitment and resolve against indiscriminate firing. As law enforcers, Purisima said members of the NCRPO must be the finest example of citizens when it comes to responsible gun ownership and in observing the law. The member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1981 who spearheaded the investigation and firing of rouge police officers when he was still the deputy director of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, warned that those who will violate existing policies and regulations on the use of firearm, specifically those who will use their firearm outside the call of duty, will be charged administratively for grave misconduct and criminally for illegal discharge of firearm. "Once and for all, I am giving a stern warning to all the metro policemen to observe these implementing policies on use of firearm. Anyone who will violate it will face hard sanctions for sure. Also, I am reminding all my chiefs of police and station commanders that if any of their personnel defy the policies we have set, they will be liable for their subordinates' act and will be slapped with appropriate charges as well," Purisima said. Purisima said that the service firearms of policemen assigned in different NCRPO districts and police stations have also been taped to ensure that his directive will be properly implemented. He also stressed the NCRPO's full support behind the "Oplan Iwas Paputok" of the Department of Health as well as the calls of local government units to designate common firecracker zones in their respective cities and municipalities to promote the safe use of legal firecrackers. Purisima also directed all police commanders to conduct operations against illegal firecrackers and to confiscate improvised PVC cannon commonly known as "Boga". The NCRPO is a member of the joint monitoring center established by the DOH to keep account of firecracker-related injuries and deaths and those caused by stray bullets or indiscriminate firing. With the country set to welcome the New Year on Sunday, Purisima said they have further tightened their security measures across Metro Manila particularly in and around churches, shopping malls and other places of mass convergence on orders of PNP chief, Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome.

The NCRPO chief, Alan Purisima, said the collection of criminal fingerprints and latent fingerprints was based on the directive of the Philippine National Police (PNP) National Headquarters for the regional and provincial police offices nationwide to create a committee on fingerprint collection to maximize the collection target. It was learned that as of as of last November, the NCRPO has recorded 1,272 latent fingerprints or 48.2 percent of the nationwide data as compared to last year's 509 latent fingerprints or a percentage of 23.7 percent of the nationwide data taken from crime scenes in Metro Manila. Purisima said this year's record shows an increase of 763 latent fingerprints lifted by forensic investigators from crime scenes. He said that on criminal fingerprint records, the NCRPO has recorded 11,460 or 33.4 percent of the nationwide data as of October as compared to last year's 4,793 or a percentage of 23.6 percent of the nationwide data, or 6,667 more fingerprint records of individual suspects arrested due to various crimes committed. Purisima said the intensification of the law enforcement operations, anti-criminality campaign and public safety services of the NCRPO with the active support of the community have greatly contributed to these fingerprint collection drive of the PNP. Purisima said the scientific-based investigation training of police investigators in the field, with the aid of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) of the PNP Crime Laboratory Group in Camp Crame, has further enhanced the collection of the fingerprints from criminals and suspects. He said these are in line with the efforts of the PNP chief, Director General Nicanor Bartolome, to enhance the specialized skills of all policemen. Purisima said the significant increases of data for latent fingerprints and criminal fingerprint cards are due to the timely reports of crime incidents from concerned and vigilant citizens. "We further encouraged our citizens to report any crimes that may be happening in their community, preserve the crime scenes, and submit pertinent information to their police. Their support and cooperation will lead to the eventual arrests of the perpetrators and early solution of any crime incidents", Purisima said.

NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office chief, Director Alan LM Purisima yesterday launched the very first NCRPO Regional Anti-Trafficking Task Group (RATTG) to combat cases of women and children trafficking in Metro Manila. The RATTG will spearhead the NCRPO's campaign against women and children being forced to engage in prostitution and forced labor in the metropolis, mostly by syndicates involved in illegal recruitment, commercial sex business and white slavery, said Purisima. The launching of the RATTG was part of the NCRPO celebration of the 16th Police-Community Relations Month. It was graced by representatives from the International Justice Mission, Family Juvenile Gender and Development Division and Women and Children Protection Center of the Philippine National Police. "It is with great pride and honor to launch this yet another initiative which is now more comprehensive and will for sure bolster the PNP's anti-trafficking efforts," Purisima said.