THE Philippine National Police yesterday
formally commissioned 500 more cars and motorcycles to add to
its existing fleet of 8,000 land vehicles used for preventive
patrol and police visibility operations.
PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon
presented the new police vehicles to Interior Secretary Ronaldo
Puno during simple ceremonies in Camp Crame.
During the ceremony, Puno announced
Malacañang’s approval of the PNP’s P10-billion modernization
program for logistics and recruitment, in addition to the
separate P1.7-billion fund for housing and infrastructure
development earlier approved by President Arroyo.
The 500 new mobile assets commissioned by the
PNP were acquired under the 2007 Procurement Program. It
consists of 100 prowl cars, 255 police utility vehicles, and 145
motorcycles.
Also commissioned were three newly
refurbished V-150 armored tactical fighting vehicles.
Razon said these latest additions to the
PNP’s fleet of land vehicles is part of the annual procurement
program for 500 motor vehicles, 5,000 handguns, and other
mission-essential equipment. "These added logistics will ensure
that the PNP will be more capable and effective in performing
the mission to serve and protect the people," he said.
In the PNP’s shopping list for 2008 are three
helicopters, 211 patrol cars, 526 utility vehicles, 295
motorcycles, 1,000 shotguns, 10,000 handguns, and special
equipment for anti-criminality and internal security operations.
Senior Supt. Nicanor Bartolome, PNP spokesman, said the
police is also expecting a supplemental fund from the Office of
the President this year that will allow it to acquire more
equipment for mobility, firepower, communication, and
investigation. He said the PNP leadership is pushing more
resources and logistics to the field to meet the operational
requirements of police units and personnel and to develop all
police stations nationwide into fighting units against
criminality, insurgency and terrorism. – Raymond Africa
