BAGUIO CITY – The leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) here disclosed it will hire at least 10,000 new police officers next year to beef up the 130,000-strong police force tasked to maintain law and order nationwide, especially with the upcoming May, 2010 elections.

Aside from the hiring of more policemen, the PNP will also facilitate the purchase of P2 billion worth of logistics such as firearms, bullets, patrol cars, and communication equipment to boost the efficiency of the police force in discharging their duties to serve and protect the people.

PNP chief, Director-General Jesus A. Verzosa, claimed the budget for the hiring of new policemen and purchase of more logistics was incorporated in the P1.5-trillion national budget for next year which is ready for signing by President Arroyo.

Verzosa said the continuous hiring of additional policemen will be done in a yearly basis until such time that the police force will be able to comply with the 1:500 ideal police to population ratio, especially in urban centers where there is notable increase in crime rates.

At present, the current police to population ration is 1:750, which is reportedly a factor in the alleged unattended proliferation of crimes in the urban areas.

In order to beef up the performance of policemen in the countryside, he explained there is reason to justify the purchase of over P2 billion of logistics for the next five years since the program will be stretched for the coming years until such time all police stations are properly equipped.

The hiring of more policemen and provision of more logistics to be downloaded to the local police stations is part of the PNP’s Integrated Transformation Program which is an advocacy of the present leadership.

Verzosa underscored the importance of sustaining the peacekeeping efforts of the police force, especially those in conflict-stricken areas, so that peace and order will be maintained because of the expected escalation of intense political rivalries among feuding politicians that could result to violent incidents which will lead to the loss of lives and damage to properties.

However, Verzosa claimed the police and military are still conducting a validation and assessment of the nine provinces which were earlier identified as areas of immediate concern or hot spots for the upcoming elections.