JV Ejercito vows support for PNP budget
October 07, 2022
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Friday
said he will support the proposed budget of the Philippine National Police
(PNP), citing the need to improve the country’s peace and order situation as
the country struggles to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the Senate Finance Committee’s hearing
on the police force’s budget, Ejercito cited the PNP’s successful efforts to
address the recent spate of criminal activities across the country and the need
to boost its anti-crime campaigns through the acquisition of better equipment.
“I think that peace and order is very
essential in our President’s thrust to rebuild our economy after the pandemic.
Pinakaimportante na conducive yung business (environment) natin,” he said.
The lawmaker from San Juan said he has been
supporting the police force’s proposed budget since his first term in the
Senate.
“I am proud to say that during that time, we
were able to equip the PNP with their wishlist. Firearms, lahat ng hiningi ni
Chief Bato, binigay natin halos,” Ejercito said.
However, Ejercito said the PNP’s leadership
should secure better vehicles and equipment that can endure challenging
terrains and difficult operations.
He recounted that during his visit to the
Bondoc Pensinsula, he witnessed his police escorts turning back from their
supposed route because their vehicles could not climb up the steep terrain.
“Dapat ang binibili natin ay yung maayos. Di
baleng mas mahal nang onti [...] ang gusto natin yung magagamit nang matagal”
he said.
Furthermore, Ejercito said the PNP should also
acquire vehicles and equipment for police units in far-flung areas to enhance
the capacity of local police forces in countering insurgency and other complex
criminal activities.
“Kaya ang binili natin marami. Kasi kung dito lahat
nakaconcentrate, sayang naman. So that it will be used in the operations of the
PNP, especially kung may anti-insurgency and other campaigns,” he said.
