Transcript of Sen. Grace Poe's closing statement
Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs hearing

Sen. Grace Poe: Before I adjourn the hearing, I would like to make the following observations. For the record, I think that the reason why we had this meeting is to study the proposed bills for modernization, but I think we all agree here that there really is a question of leadership.

General Purisima, although you have a pending case, I would like to say that it is the inconsistencies with some of your answers that gave way to suspicions that are being felt by many, and this was your chance to be able to explain yourself and I appreciate your presence but eventually, it will be the Ombudsman that will decide, but I still stand on certain inconsistencies that I feel there should be more forthrightness on your part but for the purposes of this meeting today, at least we have your answers.

I feel that there should be an improvement on police visibility with regards to the police officers and of the public. The public will look up to you in case of crime. I think they would like to hear directly from the PNP Chief about what is being done and also instead of just your spokesperson.

Before I go on, I would like to ask you sir, if you were to rate yourself in your efforts for the PNP from 1-10, what would your rating be?

PNP Chief Alan Purisima: Your honor, I would rate myself a 9.

Poe: Okay, at least we have that self-rating on your part. We can certainly use that to compare with the ratings of others. But, I would also like to stress that the SALN, although this is now subject to a case, is very important in determining a lifestyle. It is not to question you on the personal level but as a basis for your credibility as PNP Chief. There are certain inconsistencies that are undeniable, like for example, you say that earlier you don't have a property in San Leonardo, that was being built. You could have clarified it earlier that 'Yes, its in my SALN.' Maybe it is just a matter of communication but if people see that you are not very transparent, their suspicions will grow with regards to whether or not you are actually telling the truth.

On the emergency hotline

Part of what we need to study is also the national emergency response of the PNP, the system that we are trying to approve. The last time that we had a hearing, the report that was submitted to us or at least we are still awaiting that, you only have a proposed 10 seats and I doubt that the 10 seats in the call center will actually cover all the needs. So please facilitate the study for that.

On gun control

I also think it is important with regards to gun control, in particular, illegal firearms that you should be able to expedite the registration of firearms. It won't help that in the provinces, you only have one or two technicians to facilitate the registration. Siguro po mas mapapadali kung marami kayong ipapadala, kung kailangan niyo ng tulong namin, dapat nating gawin para marehistro ang ating mga baril.

On CCTVs and increased police visibility

Nabanggit ko rin na kailangan natin ng CCTV camera sa ating mga presinto para mas maging objectibo ang pagbabantay natin nung mga nag-rereport doon at yung pamamalakad doon sa mga presinto. Siguro kailangan din natin ng mga foot patrollers, dahil yung sinasabi ninyo na kailangan alam kung nasaan ang mga pulis sa bawat sitwasyon.

Kailangan din natin ang increased presence or quality of police services, mapapaigting iyan kung meron talagang naglalakad na police sa iba't-ibang oras. So lahat po iyan ay nabanggit natin.

On crime volume

Alam niyo po, maswerte kayo dahil nandito si Ms. Ang-See na patas ang pananaw na sinasabi niya na sa likod ng mga narereport sa media, naniniwala naman siya, at least doon sa kidnapping na bumababa ang kaso, pero hindi nangangahulugan na tayo ay dapat maging kuntento dahil sa ating mga datos, at uulitin ko, dito sa crime volume, tumaas na ang crime rate, as of June ay talo na ng last year. Doon pa lamang ay makikita natin, huwag na natin payagan na umusad pa ang crime rate.

Sasabihin ko po, 2013 crime volume sa buong taon ay 631,406, pero as of June 2014 ay 603, 485 po. Sa lahat po ng ito, pati yung sa white house na parang nagkaroon ng administrative inconsistency, responsibilidad po ninyo iyan bilang PNP Chief. Hindi ko sinasabing may masamang nangyari diyan pero ang masasabi ko talaga ay hindi tama ang paraan ng pagkatanggap ninyo ng donasyon, at yung mismong ari-arian ninyo. Kapag nabibigyan kayo ng discount at nabibigyan ng ganyan kalaking regalo sa pamamagitan ng diskwento ay nagkakaroon talaga ng duda.

Ano po ang mga balak ninyo sa PNP? At lalo nang may kaso kayo, dapat po palakasin ninyo ang tiwala, magpakita po kayo sa publiko at sagutin ninyo ang mga tanong ng diretso at hiwag ninyong padaanin pa sa inyong mga spokesperson. Ano po ang pinaka masasabi ninyo na pinaplano ninyo ngayon para mabawasan ang criminalidad at para masugpo ang mga mangilan-ngilan, hindi ko sinasabing lahat, na mga pulis sa inyong hanay na gumawa ng kalokohan?

Purisima: Lalo nating paiigtingin lalo na sa counter-intelligence para doon sa mga pulis na na-involve po sa krimen. On my part, tumatalima po ako sa inyong suhestyon na maging visible po ako sa mga kababayan. Maraming salamat po sa inyong suhestyon.

Poe: Kasi kapag nagpakita kayo, masasagot niyo agad at hindi na hahaba yung issue. Ang mahirap po kasi, yung mga hindi nagpapakita, iniisip na baka may kinukubli, hindi ko naman sinasabing ganoon.

On competence and integrity

Ang puno't dulo nito sa ating lahat na naririto ay ang tiwala pa rin ng ating mga kababayan, uulitin ko, ang trabaho ng PNP ay masiguro ang kaligtasan at proteksyon ng ating mga kababayan. Ipairal ang batas at para magkaroon ng kaayusan. Sa tingin ko nagkakaroon talaga ng kwestyon tungkol sa competency ng pamumuno pero hopefully sa mga darating na araw, maipakita ninyo na magiging maayos ang pamamalakad. Nabigyan lang niyo po kami ng kasagutan pero hindi ko masasabi na nabigyan niyo kami ng 100% na kalinawagan at nabigyan ng tamang kadahilanan at rason ang mga bagay-bagay na tinatanong tungkol po sa liderato ng PNP. Maraming salamat po.

This hearing is hereby adjourned.