The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday ordered all police chiefs and station commanders to regularly update crime mapping data in their respective areas of responsibility (AORs) to come up with effective methods to further lower crimes.

PNP director for operations, Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, highlighted the need for every police commander to be informed about the peace and order situation in every street and community in their respective AORs.

“Our crime rate has been on the decline in the past six years and we have to sustain our gains in running after all criminal elements for the sake of our kababayan. The instruction of our PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. is clear — we have to be at least one step ahead of criminal elements and criminal syndicates,” he added.

De Leon said this is in compliance with Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.’s pronouncement that he wants every street in the country safe for everyone, saying the best efforts of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should be complemented with good peace and order to attract more investors and foreign tourists.

“While our Commander-in-Chief, President Marcos, and his economic team will be busy improving the lives of the Filipino people, we should do our part by doing more in terms of peace and order in the country,” de Leon said.

He said having a clear picture of what is happening on the ground is an essential tool for every police commander to develop, implement, and adjust security measures to deny criminal elements any opportunity to strike.

“Overall, our goal is to deliver the best security measures for the Filipino people for the benefit of all,” he said. (PNA)