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CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction

“Law enforcement officers are never off duty. They are dedicated
public servants whoare sworn to protect public safety at
any time and place that the peace is threatened.
- Barbara Boxer”

The noble words, “To Serve and Protect” summarizes the core mission of the

Philippine National Police which is to render police services to the public in order

to ensure that there will be peace and order in the community. Police service is

one of the most important of all the public services. That is why effective policing

is fundamental to a safe and secure society, and to everyone’s sense of

well-being.1

Maintaining peace and order in a society is one way to protect the public from

any harm or danger. However, though endowed with authority, the police force is

also facing several problems in enforcing the laws especially because of their

broad duties and functions.That is why according to Herman Goldstein, anyone

attempting to construct a workable definition of the police role will come away

with old images shattered and with a newfound appreciation for the intricacies of

police work.2

The police have three basic police functions namely crime prevention, law

enforcement, and public community relations. Crime prevention is one of the

most important functions of the police. The police is committed to ensuring public

safety and reducing the fear and the incidence of crime in the community. 3
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Law enforcement is the act of enforcing the law. It involves the prevention,

investigation, apprehension, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of

offenses against the criminal laws, including an employee engaged in this activity

who is transferred to a supervisory or administrative position.4

Public Community Relations refers to the relationship between the police and

the communities they serve. Good police-community relations are imperative for

developing trust between police and citizens. Without this trust, police work

becomes much less effective.5

The Philippines’ decreasing crime rate registered from July 2015 to July 2016

is proof that the administration’s war against illegal drugs and criminality has been

effective.6 Region V or Bicol Region’s total crime volume for the first seven

months of 2016 decreased by 22.2 percent compared to 2015’s. Meanwhile, the

province of Albay had the second highest crime volume in the region, topped

robbery incidents with 220.7

Legazpi City, the capital city of Albay and the most populous city in Bicol

Region and one of the centers of tourism, education, health services,

commerce and transportation in the Bicol Region, is not an exception when it

comes to crime incidents. The Legazpi City Peace and Order Council or (LCPOC)

has expressed alarm over the rising number of crimes committed against persons

and properties in this city.The council observed that as the city’s crime rate as

well as having noticeably increasing, causing alarm to the residents, business

sectors and potential investors.8 However, the intensified campaign of President

Rodrigo Roa Duterte against crimes and illegal drugs has greatly helped reduce
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the number of index crime in Legazpi City, according to former City Police Chief

of Legazpi City Police Station, Insp. Errol Garchitorena.

Legazpi City Police Station is located at Alternate Road, Bitano, Legazpi City,

Albay.9 Its vision is to be a highly capable, effective and credible police service

working in partnership with a responsive community towards the attainment of a

safer place to live, work and do business, by 2030. Its mission is to enforce the

law, prevent and control crimes, maintain peace and order, and ensure public

safety and internal security with the active support of the community. While its

mandate is established by Republic Act 6975 entitled An Act Establishing the

Philippine National Police under a reorganized Department of the Interior and

Local Government and Other Purposes as amended by RA 8551 Philippine

National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 and further amended by

RA 9708.10

It upholds the philosophy of Service, Honor and Justice, with the core values

that the police must observe namely, Maka-Diyos (God-fearing),

Makabayan (Nationalistic), Makatao (Humane), and Makakalikasan

(Environment- friendly). In addition, Legazpi City Police Station has the following

functions namely: law enforcement, maintenance of peace and order, prevention

and investigation of crimes, exercise of the vested powers from the 1987

Philippine Constitution and other pertinent laws, detention of arrested persons,

implementation of pertinent laws, regulations on firearms and explosive control,

and supervision and control of the training and operations of security agencies.11
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Legazpi City Police Station is headed by a Chief of Police. The Chief of Police

is the most powerful key in organizational goals. His roles are grouped as

interpersonal, informational, and decisional. Under his supervision is a Deputy

Chief of Police. He is the second highest official in the police station. Together,

they supervise the personnels under the operation and administrative divisions of

the police station, including those personnels assigned in the police community

precincts in the city.12

As of December 2015, the Legazpi City Police Station has a total of 7 patrol

vehicles, 9 motorcycles and 5 tricycles. It has a total of 62 communication

equipments such as handheld radios and mobile radio. It also has a total of 37

office equipments such as typewriters, computer sets and TV. In terms of

firearms, Legazpi City Police Station has 293 short fireams and 25 long firearms,

with a total of 318 firearms.13 In terms of manpower, Legazpi City Police Station,

as of January 2017, has a total number of 257 personnel in which 192 are male

and 65 are female.14

In 2014, Legazpi City Police Station had successfully conducted a total of 388

SAMBAYAN activities in which 64 activities are sports/socio-cultural-based, 58

are school-based activities, 166 are church-based activities, 52 are medical

activities, and 48 cleanliness activities. There were also a total of 274 seminars

and mobilization conducted with the Barangay Tanods. In 2015, 87 drug

personalities were arrested. In line with the LOI Manhunt Charlie of the Philippine

National Police, Legazpi City Police Station had a total of 95 arrested person.
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As part of the community organization and mobilization campaign of the

police station, a total of 78 BPO/BPATs seminar were conducted to various

barangays of the city through the supervision of PSUPT JOSELITO G ESICO,

ACOP, LCPS. Personnel of Legazpi City Police Station and the members of

Barangay Tanod Federation initiated the activities which involve talks on peace

and order situations of every barangay. While in 2016, several police activities

were also successfully conducted. However, the peaceful National Election in the

city, and the successful Palarong Pambansa held in the city last April 2016 are

considered as its best accomplishments.15

The police are indeed important in the maintain peace and order not only for

the welfare of the residents but as a vital factor in promoting safety and security,

economic growth, social and political stability. It is imperative therefore, that the

performance of the Legazpi City Police Station be assessed. By doing such,

possible weak areas might be identified and be provided remedies accordingly.

The researchers were inspired to pursue this study for the following reasons:

(1) As concerned residents of Legazpi City, they felt the need to assess first-hand

the level of performance of the police in rendering police services because this is

an important issue especially in this term of President Rodrigo Duterte; (2) As

Political Science students, this is an avenue in which they can apply the

knowledge attained; (3) The crime incidences in the city of Legazpi triggered

them to know the performance of the PNP in coping with these incidences; and

lastly, (4)They hope that they will be able to contribute in the enhancement of the

performance of the Legazpi City police force.

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Statement of the Problem

This study determined the performance of Legazpi City Police Station in

performing the basic police functions.

Specifically, it sought answers to the following questions:

1. What are the activities of the Legazpi City Police Station on the following

basic police functions?

a. Crime Prevention

b. Law Enforcement

c. Public Community Relations

2. What is the level of performance of the Legazpi City Police Stations along

the three (3) basic police functions?

3. What are the problems encountered by Legazpi City Police Station in

performing its basic police functions?

4. What are the measures undertaken to solve the problems encountered in

the performance of the basic police functions?

Scope and Delimitation

This study focused in determining the level of performance of Legazpi City

Police Station. Specifically, it covered the activities of the Legazpi City Police

Station along the basic police functions, their level of performance along the

same functions,the problems met by the police in performing its basic police

functions, and the measures undertaken to solve the problems encountered.

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This study only covered the city of Legazpi and excluded other cities or

municipalities in Albay. The area of research was the Legazpi Police Station

because it is in Legazpi City, that all commercial transactions and industries are

being processed. Because of these, crime incidences are highly probable. This

study covered the calendar years 2014 to 2016 and involves five (5) barangays

that were identified to have high incidence of crime based on the Crime Statistics

report of Legazpi City Police Station from January 2015 to December 2015 and

January 2016 to December 2016. The most crime-prone barangays in Legazpi

City are: Barangay Bitano, Rawis, Kawit-East Washington, Rizal St. Ilawod, and

Gogon.16

There were three hundred seventy-seven (377) respondents who are the

residents in the five barangays identified. In addition, seventy-one (71) police

personnel of the Legazpi City Police Station and the Chief of Police served as

respondents of the study. There was a total of four hundred forty-nine (449)

respondents.

Significance of the Study

The study would be a significant input to the overall development program of

the local government of the City of Legazpi. The researchers consider the study

significant to the following sectors.

Philippine National Police. The result of the study may be useful in their

policy review, evaluation and formulation, particularly in the areas of governance

of their provincial police offices. The result of this study may be applicable for
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policy formulation purposes on how the Philippine National Police can best

enforce the law, conduct patrol and pro-active policing, and improve their

strategies on crime responses, crime prevention and community relations.

Local Government Units of the City of Legazpi. The findings of the study

may be useful as a database for future courses of action in the maintenance of

peace and order, and in facilitating new schemes of police service administration.

The local government may use the data as inputs in the formulation of local

ordinances and in the planning of joint peace and order programs with the police.

Police Personnel in Legazpi. The result of the study may be adapted to

their law enforcement strategies and tactics to maximize their present capabilities

and in maximizing their visibility for a more effective police force. The study may

be able to identify the weak areas where the police must strengthen their

coverage.

Legazpeños. The findings of the study may give them the opportunity of

having effective police services that they deserve and thus ensure they have

peace and security in their daily pursuits of living.

Bicol University College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. The findings

of the study may serve as an instrument for the college to be inspired to

participate more to the implementation or enforcement of the programs and

functions of the police which could benefit mostly the students and personnel of

the college who are residing in Legazpi City.

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Political Science Department. Through the results of the study, the

department could serve as instrument to guide the students in understanding the

real functions of the Philippine National Police. It could also device some

innovations that will encourage the faculty and students to support the PNP in

carrying out the police services to the citizenry.

Future Researchers. This study can serve as a guide and reference to

future researchers who may conduct further studies.

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NOTES

1 Clare Spottiswoode, “Improving police performance: A new approach

measuring police efficiency”.
2 Herman Goldstein, “Policing a Free Society”, (Massachusetts, Cambridge
University Press, 1987).
3 Public Safety, Retrieved from: http://publicsafety.cua.edu/prevention.cfm
4 Kirstein Pran Pangod, “Law Enforcement in the Philippines”, Retrieved
from:http://www.academia.edu/686153/Law-Enforcement-in-the-Philippines, 10
March 2017, 5:54 pm
5 Police-Community Relations: Importance & Comparisons, Retrieved
from:http://study.com/academy/lesson/police-community-relations-importanceco
mparisons.html, 10 March, 6:05 pm
6 Philippines: Crime Rate dip proof that change has come, Retrieved from:
http://bonjourplanetearth.blogspot.com/2016/08/philippines-crime-rate-dip-proof-t
hat.html, 10 March, 7:37 pm
7Bicol News, Retrieved from: http://www.bicolmail.com/2012/?p=22506, 28
November 2016, 12:04 am
8Bicol News, Retrieved from: http://www.bicolmail.com/2012/?p=24601, 28
November 2016, 12:23 am
9 Legazpi City Police Station Location, Retrieved from:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=Legazpi+City+Police+Station+is+located+
at+Alternate+Road,+Bitano,+Legazpi+City,+4500+Albay, 13 March 2017, 4:04
pm
10 PNP Official Website, Retrieved from:
http://www.pnp.gov.ph/about-us/overview, 17 March 2017, 9:22 pm
11 PNP Official Website, Retrieved from:
http://www.pnp.gov.ph/about-us/overview, 17 March, 9:22 pm
12 Organizational Chart of Legazpi City Police Station
13 Move, Shoot and Communicate Capability of LCPS as of December 2015
14 Legazpi City Police Station Disposition of Personnel Report
15 Legazpi City Police Station Accomplishment Reports: 2014, 2015 & 2016
16 Legazpi City Police Station Crime Incidence Report Jan 2015-Dec 2016