ENHANCING THE EFFICACY OF PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE ANTI-CARNAPPING UNIT THROUGH RESPONSIVE MONITORING AT THE CALOOCAN CITY

Abstract

Carnapping remains a serious and ongoing problem in the Philippines, posing threats to public safety and weakening trust in law enforcement. In response to the rising number of vehicle theft cases, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has established specialized units such as the Highway Patrol Group and the Anti-Carnapping Group. These units are tasked with conducting thorough investigations, enforcing strategic operations, and facilitating the swift recovery of stolen vehicles. Despite these efforts, carnapping persists as a major challenge. This highlights the need for enhanced intelligence-gathering, the adoption of modern vehicle identification technologies, stricter enforcement of relevant laws, and stronger community involvement to effectively combat and prevent this crime. This study employed a quantitative research design using a convenience sampling method to collect data from 100 respondents in Caloocan City. The respondents included 20 police officers, 20 representatives from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and 60 drivers. Data were gathered through a structured survey aimed at capturing relevant insights and perspectives on anti-carnapping efforts. Based on the analyzed responses, the researchers proposed a set of recommendations to address operational challenges encountered by the Philippine National Police, with a focus on enhancing the monitoring and effectiveness of the Anti-Carnapping Unit in the area. To better understand the background of the participants, the study collected demographic data, with the following results: Age: The largest age group among the respondents was 26–33 years old, comprising 29 individuals or 29% of the total sample. Sex: A significant majority of respondents were male, totaling 84 individuals or 84%, indicating a considerable gender disparity. Civil Status: The most common civil status was "separated," reported by 49 respondents, representing 49% of the sample. Educational Attainment: The highest level of educational attainment was college graduate, with 36 respondents or 36% falling under this category. Challenges Encountered by the Philippine National Police (PNP) One of the key challenges identified is the lack of strong inter-agency coordination between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO). This gap in collaboration hampers the efficient flow of critical information, thereby reducing the overall effectiveness of anti-carnapping efforts in Caloocan City.  Proposed Strategies to Improve PNP Anti-Carnapping Efforts In response to the identified challenges, the following strategies are proposed to enhance the operations of the Anti-Carnapping Unit:  Conduct Specialized Training Programs: Provide focused training on modern anti-carnapping methods, investigative techniques, and the integration of technology in crime prevention and vehicle recovery. Strengthen Personnel Deployment: Increase the manpower of the Anti-Carnapping Unit through reassignment or recruitment of additional officers to boost operational capacity and ensure a more visible and effective police presence. This section interprets the data collected from respondents on the key factors evaluated in the study. Respondents rated performance with an overall weighted mean of 3.35, indicating strong agreement. Responsiveness received a slightly higher weighted mean of 3.43, also reflecting strong agreement. Collaboration garnered the highest score, with a weighted mean of 3.44, signifying strong agreement as well. These results demonstrate that respondents hold a positive perception of performance, responsiveness, and collaboration within the study’s scope.