The Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) XI has recommended amending a Philippine National Police (PNP) memorandum blamed for causing confusion among police officers regarding how to handle crime incidents.
This recommendation comes amid an investigation into over 100 Davao City policemen accused of manipulating police blotters.
Lawyer Jovito Arquita, chief of RIAS XI’s Intelligence and Investigation Division, stated that PNP Memorandum Circular 2018-050, which outlines guidelines for reporting crime incidents, is unclear about when cases should be referred to barangays and when they should be reported to the police.
“We completed our validation and submitted a report recommending the amendment of the memorandum to Camp Crame last Monday,” Arquita said during the Davao Peace and Security Press Corps briefing on Wednesday.
“The memorandum has led to confusion about what should be referred to the barangay, what should be recorded, and what should be done.”
The memorandum also outlines the Crime Information Reporting and Analysis System (CIRAS) and specifies which crimes must be reported. However, Arquita said that RIAS found inconsistencies in how police stations were implementing the guidelines.
“We visited several police stations and discovered that due to understaffing, many incidents were not recorded in physical blotter books but only in computer systems,” Arquita explained.
“There were also instances where cases were referred to barangays but not recorded in CIRAS, affecting crime statistics.”
These inconsistencies, Arquita said, have contributed to the manipulation of police blotters, a serious offense that can distort crime data.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office (PRO) XI director Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III has launched an investigation into the matter, acknowledging that discrepancies in blotter records have hindered law enforcement efforts.
“We found many discrepancies, errors, and unrecorded incidents,” Torre said. “We’re giving the officers a chance to explain, but we will take appropriate action based on the findings of our investigation.”
Recently, Mayor Sebastian Duterte has criticized the handling of the issue and called for legal assistance for the affected police officers.
Moreover, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has acknowledged the problem and stated that it will conduct seminars and provide closer supervision to prevent future irregularities.
At Wednesday’ press briefing, Captain Hazel Tuazon, spokesperson for the Davao City Police Office, said, “The DCPO is following the memorandum circular, but supervision is the prerogative of our station commanders. CIRAS is where we get the presentation for our stations. If something is not recorded in the blotter book, it will not match the current records. We will ensure that our recording is based on what RIAS deems proper, as directed by headquarters.”
She added that seminars and closer monitoring of desk officers by station commanders are necessary to ensure proper recording and remarks.
“We need to supervise and assist them to ensure accurate records,” she said. “We are addressing issues related to remarks and recording, and we are waiting for the PNP personnel’s explanations.”
Photo: Bing Gonzales
