Life is beautiful, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., and he often uses it as a soundbite in speeches and statements he would issue to the media.
So when former PNP chief and now Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa was quoted saying that the police force now lack aggressiveness in running after criminals amid the proliferation of criminal incidents that were supposedly caught in the video and would go viral in the social media, Azurin said that there is no need to threaten criminals.
"We value the preservation of life. And we do not need to threaten criminals because the guidance of our President is very clear, to make this country a safe place whether they are inside or outside of their home," Azurin told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
It was an apparent dig at Dela Rosa whose tour of duty as Chief PNP was described by critics as bloody, what with the increase of deaths of suspected criminals especially in the campaign against illegal drugs.
But Azurin was quick to clarify that he has high respect for Dela Rosa and other former PNP chiefs: "They had their heydays so I really have high respect to all former PNP chiefs."
And for Azurin, it is a difference of strategy and belief in the campaign against criminal elements.
"Some are insinuating that some (criminals) have to die. But my point of view is that when you kill a criminal, we just ended the suffering at the very instance," said Azurin.
"But when we start investigating, filing cases and arresting these criminals at place them behind bar, if they still have 30 years to live in this world, then they would wake up everyday regretting the crimes they did to the people," he explained.
This kind of punishment, according to Azurin, will give the criminals the choice on whether they would go back to their old ways or live up to the concept of atonement by being a productive member of the society.
Azurin also emphasized that the PNP, under his leadership, will not change the strategy of aggressively running after criminal elements both by preventive measures and crime-solution efficiency but at the same time, preserving their life.
While Azurin stressed that all policemen have the right to defend themselves when the criminal elements would endanger their lives, what is wrong is if it is the policemen who would instigate the killing.
"Definitely, they (policemen) also have to defend themselves but if it is them who would instigate, it should not happen because that is not our mandate as the police officers," he emphasized.
The case of "Bloody Sunday"
In stressing his point, Azurin cited the case of 30 policemen who conducted the operations in what is now notoriously called the "Bloody Sunday" operation in Cavite, Rizal and Laguna which left nine activists dead.
The 30 policemen are now facing murder charges based on the recommendation of the Department of Justice.
"I really feel sad that after the so many accomplishments of the PNP in the past, here comes now the counter charge of an incident that is connected in the performance of their job," said Azurin.
Azurin has already ordered the accounting of all the policemen, all are assigned to the Police Regional Office 4A, after the filing of the cases.
But he assured that the PNP will provide legal assistance to them.
More than 150 police officers were also recommended to be charged by the DOJ last year in connection with the irregularities found by DOJ investigators in the drug war campaign.
Time will tell
Azurin then called for support for past PNP leaders on the cases being faced by policemen that are related to the performance of their duty.
But right now, he said his guidance to all policemen is to do what is right.
"My guidance to all policemen is for them to our job right and I think that is also the guidance of past PNP leaders," said Azurin.
"So on the lack of aggressiveness, what I am saying is that time will tell on what kind of leader this country needs," the Chief PNP stressed.