PNP to replace police blotters with digital incident record forms in March

The Philippine National Police is set to reintroduce the digital incident reporting system this year to replace the old blotter system. 

 

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said on Monday that the PNP will relaunch the Incident Record Form in every police station in Metro Manila. 

 

"The IRF will serve as the complainant's receipt and a reference number will also be provided so victims can track down the progress of their complaints," Roxas explained. 

 

With the old blotter system, only the police has a copy of criminal incidents, which makes it difficult for victims to know the status of their complaints. 

 

The IRF also allows each police precinct to record all types of crimes, Roxas previously said. This way, district directors are properly guided on what strategies to implement to reduce crimes in their areas.

 

New equipment on the way

 

The reintroduction of the IRF is just one of the upgrades that the PNP will undergo this year. 

 

"Hindi na puwede ang bara-bara, kanya-kanya at ningas cogon. We need a programmatic, deliberate and sustained approach in fighting crime," Roxas said.

 

This month, the PNP will be installing closed-circuit television cameras in every police station and in a hundred high-crime areas in Metro Manila, Roxas revealed. 

 

The PNP has also acquired 1,000 new patrol vehicles, more than 5,000 firearms, and more than 52,000 radios, which they will get between the second and third quarter this year.

 

"We want our men and women in blue to 'move, shoot, and talk' better so they can combat crime more effectively," he added.

 

A national emergency hotline will also be activated within the year to receive police concerns. The number will also connect to the Bureau of Fire Protection and to emergency medical units.

 

Despite the controversies that surround the agency including a temporary change in leadership, Roxas stressed that the PNP "remains focused on their duty to serve and protect the people." — Trisha Macas/JDS, GMA News