According to the website of the National Statistical Coordination Board, the Philippines’ policy making and coordinating body on statistical matters, (www.nscb.gov.ph), the Philippine National Police (PNP) has reported a total number of 59, 779 solved crimes in the country in 2008, quite favorable compared to the downward trend from 69, 417 solved crimes in 2004 to 58, 278 in 2007. But nothing can probably compare to several years ago when 2004 experienced the most number of solved cases as it posted the highest number so far – 69, 417.
Nevertheless, this triumphant increase means that the crime efficiency rate in the country has been improving – a 5% solution of unsolved cases. From a 88.8% rate in 2005, it gradually snaked its way up to 89.4% in 2008.
Back in 2002, Senator Loren Legarda urged then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and now Pampanga Congresswoman, to create a task force that would solve unsolved cases.
“We have to admit that people do not feel safe anymore with the seeming helplessness of law enforcement agencies to prevent and solve crimes,” Legarda had said. “Thus, I ask the (then) President to consider the creation of a task force that would try to solve criminal cases whose files are now gathering dust.”
She added that there are many unsolved cases in the country which haven’t seen light yet. Among these are: the Nida Blanca murder (Dorothy Jones in real life), the Dacer-Corbito double murder case, labor leaders Popoy Lagman and Rolando Olalia, former child actress Strawberry, UP student Nino Calinao, the many journalists who have been killed from north to south – the biggest of which was the Maguindanao massacre-, and of course, the Vizconde triple murders.
“If we have to send the members of this task force abroad to equip them with the latest crime-solving skills, techniques, and equipment, so be it,” she had said. She added that task force members who have acquired specialization courses abroad can now pass on their knowledge by conducting seminars for policemen who are still in the grassroots level.
As of now, there are still many news reports about sensationalized crimes and not-so almost every night. But with the clamor for justice, the whole country is hoping for a resolution to these unsolved cases, and hoping to be part of the staggering statistics.
