The Philippine Online Chronicles

The Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) is set to receive P23 million worth of upgrades from the city government to modernize their crime scene equipment and enhance their crime-busting capabilities.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista said during the 71st Foundation Anniversary of QCPD that acquiring new equipment would be necessary to boost the morale of the city law enforcers, QCPD offices and units, especially those performing crime investigation work.

Bautista was the keynote speaker during the anniversary celebration, which went under the theme “Serbisyong Huwarang Bayan paggunita sa ika-pitumput isang taon ng matuwid at matapat na paglilingkod sa mga mamamayan ng Lungsod Quezon [A model of service to society during the 71^st year of honest and trustworthy service to the people of Quezon City’]”.

Bautista added that he hoped that with the new equipment, police forces will be able to speed up investigating and arresting criminals.

“I am very proud that QCPD is the finest police district in the Metropolis today,” he said.

The QCPD has had the distinction of being Best Police District in the National Capital Region (NCR) since 2006.

“I hope that at the end of the year, QCPD led by [Director Police Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele] will sustain the winning moment,” Bautista added. “Rest assured that the City Government will actively support the District all the way.”

Superintendent Jesus Bacani, Chief of the QCPD Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), admitted that the QCPD needs better equipment. The department is currently in need of a polygraph machine, a comparison microscope, post blast examination equipment, and investigation suits with oxygen masks.

QCPD cases

The QCPD recently made news for arresting a pair of suspects involved in the shooting of a 40-year old man in Barangay Tandang Sora, Quezon City. The QCPD also recently teamed up with the Caloocan City police to arrest five suspects during a crackdown of a motorcycle theft ring. Recovered were 13 stolen bikes.

Earlier last month, the QCPD featured in the rescue of 70 dogs from a pair of dog meat peddlers. The police, together with members of the Network for Animals (NFA) chased down a van which was transporting dogs to Pangasinan and other northern provinces for slaughter.

However, the QCPD has also had its share of negative press. Six members of the force were recently suspended for an illegal arrest and other human rights violations connected to the department’s investigation of the apparent suicide of journalist Ted Failon’s wife back in April 2009. According to Failon, police officers arrested his sister-in-law Pamela Arteche Trinchera in violation of police operational procedures, while she was still in the hospital where Failon’s wife had been rushed to.

The department has also yet to comment on the case of supposed police officers gunning two people at a wake in Escopa 3, Bliss in Project 4 last Sunday. According to a witness, three policemen went to the wake to arrest a certain Obet Matamis for murder. Without warning, the cops reportedly opened fire, killing Matamis and attendee Carlo Sison, before fleeing the scene.

The QCPD has also remained unable to track down the cop killer who gunned down Police Officer 2 Eligio Navo, 36, of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), back in October. Navo was reportedly drinking with his live-in partner and other friends when an unidentified man entered the room and shot him with a .45-caliber pistol. Superintendent Antonio Yarra, chief of the CIDG, said that it was possible the murder was connected to Navo’s work as a police officer.