MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 15, 2013) – San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada on Tuesday challenged the Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima to step up the government’s fight against crime.
This after Ejercito Estrada expressed alarm over the spate of sensational crimes involving guns which occurred in the first few days of 2013.
“The death of Stephanie Nicole Ella in Caloocan, the shooting spree of Ronald Bae in Kawit, Cavite, and the alleged shootout in Atimonan, Quezon are not just petty crimes. And all these happened in just a span of one week,” the young lawmaker, who is a son of former President Joseph Estrada, said.
He said the PNP must immediately roll out crime prevention measures before the public loses confidence in authorities.
“General Purisima should step up or step down. PNP officials should show that they have the capability to prevent high-profile crimes,” Ejercito Estrada said.
In the case of the alleged shootout in Atimonan town in Quezon province involving policemen, Ejercito Estrada urged the PNP to cooperate fully with the National Bureau of Investigation to speed up the resolution of the case.
Ejercito Estrada is running for Senator in the May mid-term elections under the United Nationalist Alliance, and enjoy a wide and popular support across the country.
In Mindanao, gun attacks are also uncommon and despite the gun ban and many cases are still unresolved. In Zamboanga City, at least 175 people were killed last year in gun attacks, many perpetrated by hired killers. (Mindanao Examiner)
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