The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expresses deep concern over the alleged misreporting of police blotters in Davao City to establish a declining trend in the city’s crime statistics.
According to reports, the observed discrepancies in two police log books showed different entry reports, where one listed lesser records or wrong classification of cases as an attempt to allegedly cover-up the city’s real crime statistics. This resulted in the reassignment of 19 police station commanders in Davao City.
As enshrined in the Philippine National Police (PNP) Operations Manual, each PNP operating unit/station shall maintain two separate police blotters: Blue Blotter contains daily registry of all crimes incident reports involving official summaries of arrest, and other significant events reported; and Pink Blotter which contains reported cases involving Violence Against Women and Children, Trafficking in Person, and other Gender-Based Violence.
The PNP Guidebook on Human Rights Based-Policing clearly states that the Police Blotter is a public document. The public, especially legitimate members of the media, can gain access to the police blotters. It was also highlighted that the PNP should practice transparency and accountability by providing information to the public, including policies, documents, and reports, as long as it does not compromise national security and public safety.
Moreover, the PNP Standard Operating Procedure in Recording Incident Reports in the Police Blotter declares the importance of accuracy of reports and to “make sure that all the information gathered is truthful and exact in its documentation.”
Article 1 of the United Nation Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (COCLEO) states that “law enforcement officials shall at all times fulfill the duty imposed upon them by law, by serving the community and by protecting all persons against illegal acts, consistent with the high degree of responsibility required by their profession.”
As duty-bearers who must “serve and protect” the people, the Commission takes this opportunity to reiterate the hefty role of the PNP’s mandate to secure peace and promote social order in the country. To guarantee every Filipino’s fundamental freedom from fear, it is incumbent upon every police officer to ensure that all reports, including blotters, adhere to the principles of transparency and integrity as part of public trust.
Moreover, manipulating crime statistics obscures the true extent of criminal activity, and in turn, prevents victims from obtaining justice as their cases may be downplayed or ignored.
The Commission emphasizes that maintaining the accuracy and integrity of crime reporting is essential for maintaining justice and public confidence. Accurate crime statistics ensure that the State remains accountable to the people.
Moreover, it is equally important that thorough investigations are conducted, and those responsible for the falsification of records are held accountable in accordance with the rule of law.
The CHR sternly reminds the government and law enforcement authorities of their obligations to maintain the highest standards of integrity and accountability. While we recognise the efforts made by the law enforcement sector in lowering the crime rate in the country, this does not entail misrepresentations of the status quo of a community.
After all, these reported numbers are not just mere statistics, these are actual stories, grievances, and transgressions of Filipinos that must be addressed by the authorities within the bounds of their mandate. ###