Lacierda: No need for PNoy to appoint anti-crime czar

There is no need for President Benigno Aquino III to appoint a crime czar amid the recent series of violent crimes that hit the country, Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Thursday. At a press briefing in Malacañang, Lacierda said the President is on top of the situation as he is updated on the development of the cases. “We don’t need a crime czar. We have PNP [Philippine National Police] Director General Raul Bacalzo overseeing the [country’s] peace and order, we have the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines, under Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David, Jr.], we have the National Security Adviser [Cesar Garcia]," Lacierda said. “Everybody reports to the President. Hindi kailangan ng isang ad hoc na magsa-czar dito, czar doon [We don’t need an ad hoc group that will serve as czar of this, czar of that]," he added. He also pointed out that crime volume went down by 41.1 percent in 2010, from 502,665 incidents in 2009 to 296,059 last year. The kidnapping for ransom cases went down by 28.07 percent in 2010, murder was down by 6.3 percent while carnapping (carjacking) was down by 37 percent. “This is statistical evidence of a decrease in the crime rate. Now if there’s any question on the crime rate, all you have to do is just verify it and the PNP can easily give you the details," he said. He reiterated that there is a chain of command with respect to peace and order “In terms of law enforcement, we have a hierarchy as well. So settled, that’s why there’s no need to appoint an anti-crime czar," said Lacierda. In 2009, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo named herself as anti-drug czar in the wake of a drug-bust controversy involving young men from well-to-do families. (See: Arroyo now RP anti-drug czar amid Alabang Boys mess.) During the administration of former President Fidel Ramos, then Vice President Joseph Estrada was appointed as an anti-crime czar who headed the Philippine Anti-Crime Commission. – Amita O. Legaspi/MRT/JV, GMANews.TV