This study is an assessment of the capability of Laguna Police Provincial Office in addressing shooting incidents in the key cities in the province of Laguna in terms of personal capability, anti-criminality program, inter-agency collaboration, and community involvement. Likewise, it also included the problems encountered that affected the capability of the Laguna Police Provincial Office in addressing shooting incidents, and the proposed measures to solve the problems encountered by the Laguna Police Provincial Office that affected their capability relative to aforecited variables. Further, it determined whether there is a significant difference on the assessment of the two (2) groups of respondents on the capability of the Laguna Police Provincial Office in addressing shooting incidents, problems encountered, and the corresponding measures in relation to the aforementioned variables. The survey instruments and the interview guide were used in gathering the needed data. As well as percentage, average weighted, f-test as statistical tools. The study was conducted at the Laguna Police Provincial Office.
The study revealed the following findings: the Laguna Police Provincial Office in addressing shooting incidents as capable. They are highly capable in community involvement and least capable is the anti-criminality program. The areas that needs further enhancement include the following: employ personnel are equipped with short and long firearms; conduct OPLAN Katok in the cities and municipalities; confer with other Law Enforcement Agencies to update information concerning criminal gangs involved in shooting incidents; and Active Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) to gather info against shooting incidents suspects.
They encountered serious problems with regards to some personnel still use their personal firearms and had not gone firearms proficiency training; the list of those who have not registered their firearms are not updated for effective OPLAN KATOK; Lack of proper coordination with other government agencies to track down criminal gangs involve in shooting incidents; and lack of informants from barangay to help address identification of criminal gangs involved in shooting incidents” with an average weighted mean of 3.95 or serious. Majority of the proposed measures were recommended. The highly recommended measures included: All personnel are trained and proficient in firing and fully equipped with firearms and ammunition issued by provincial office to address shooting incidents; Preparation of updated list of registered firearms holder and illegal possessor of firearms who are involved in shooting incidents; Well coordinated provincial office with other local government agencies to enact laws/ordinance to prevent shooting incidents in the province likewise the installation of CCTV cameras as part of requirements for business permits; and Activated Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) /Barangay Peace Keeping Action Teams (BPATs) as informants with designed inventive findings for easily identification of suspects in shooting incidents. There is no significant difference in the assessment of the capability of Laguna Police Provincial Office, problems encountered and the proposed measures in terms of personnel capability, anti-criminality program, inter-agency linkages, and community involvement. However, there is significant difference in the assessment of the problems in terms of inter-agency linkages.
Based on the results of the study, the following can be concluded: the Laguna PPO need to develop their capability with regards to number of police personnel equipped with high caliber firearms to combat notorious groups involved in shooting incidents; human relation skills to acquire support of the community in police operations; level of linkages with the law enforcement agencies; and mobilization of barangay through Barangay Information. The most serious problems encountered are parallel to the lowest capability of Laguna PPO. Based on the conclusions of the study, the following are the recommendations: increase the knowledge and skills of the PNP personnel particularly assigned in patrol and investigation of shooting incidents by providing opportunities to undergo firearms related trainings; submit updated inventory of the available firearms of the Laguna PPO as justification for the firearms upgrading programs; initiate regular meetings with the different law enforcement agencies to implement the new firearms law concerning the possession of firearms; conduct conference with the participation of businessmen and barangay officials to formulate strategies to monitor suspects in shooting incidents; and provide joint seminar for the police personnel and barangay officials concerning the activation of the Barangay Intelligence Network.