TACLOBAN CITY – Chief Supt. Elesio de la Paz revealed that he is not only after solving the proliferation of illegal activities in the region but at the same time, to win the confidence and trust of the people.
The regional police chief said that among the illegal activities still proliferating in different parts of the region, he is most concerned on the illegal drugs.
In fact, De la Paz, speaking before members present at the weekly media forum “Express It At the Park” held at the Leyte Park Resort yesterday, said that out of the 1,157 persons arrested last year of violations of various crimes under special laws, majority of them were due to illegal drug activity.
And the police regional chief vowed to continue without let up on his drive against the proliferation of the illegal drugs in ten region even as he disclosed that noted a decline in the supply of “shabu” (methamphitamine hydrochloride) here.
“(The people of Eastern Visayas) can be assured that the members as well as the officers of the Philippine National Police in the region will continue to do their duty not only to protect them from danger but at the same time, to work closely with them,” De la Paz said.
“We will also work and do our best that confidence and trust for the PNP organization in the region among our people will continue,” he added.
De la Paz, however, stressed that while he is giving focus on his fight against illegal drugs i the region, he also issued an order to all his men in the field to also solve the [proliferation of illegal logging and illegal fishing in the region.
He admitted that these two illegal activities continue to thrive in the region.
And as part of De la Paz’s effort to cleanse the organizations of scalawags, 61 erring police officers assigned in the different detachments and groups in the region were dismissed from service last year.
“They have committed various offenses that merited their dismissal from the service,” the regional police chief explained.
De la Paz also said that 17 other were either suspended or censure due to offenses committed by them.
The police regional chief reiterated his vow not only to solve various crimes that are happening in th region but also to do what he described as house cleaning” referring to the dismissal and sanctions imposed of those police officers who were accused or found to have violated laws.
Meantime, De la Paz said that while there was an increase of crime incidence in the region last year compared to 2004, the region still remains generally peaceful.
Based on their monitoring, there was an increase of five percent on the so-called index crime in the region or those who figured on crimes against persons and properties last 2005 with that of 2004.
In 2004, about 2,769 persons were involved on crimes against persons and properties which are lower than the 2005 figure of 2,920.
