MANILA - The National Police Commission defended Wednesday the methodology used in a survey on public trust and approval of Metro Manila police officers.

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Arlen Talledo, acting chief of Napolcom's technical services division, said they applied random sampling but chose the "crime-prone" communities in Metro Manila, as identified through the help of barangays.

The 570 respondents came from different sectors including the youth, professionals and barangay officials, she said. Fifty-four percent of survey respondents were male while 46 percent were female.

Talledo said no police officer was part of the survey.

Fifty people were surveyed in each of Manila, Quezon City, and Caloocan. Thirty people, meanwhile, were surveyed in each of the following cities: Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasay, Makati, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Pateros.

The numbers are predetermined since they first conducted the survey in 2014, and the Napolcom sought assistance from their statisticians, said Talledo.

They also used the same questionnaire applied last year, she said.

The survey found that out of the 6 categories formulated by Napolcom, 4 categories' ratings went up: the Level of Public Safety (11.4 percent); Public Support and Cooperation (11.2 percent); Lifestyle, Moral and Ethics (8.2 percent); and Quality of Police Response (7.4 percent).

However 2 categories' ratings went down: Public Trust and Respect (3.2 percent); and Crime Reporting by the Public (2.4 percent).

When asked about the veracity of the respondents' answers, Talledo said that their answers are purely theirs and not influenced in any manner.

One possible reason why some categories' ratings went up is because of the PNP's programs specifically, Ugnayang Mamamayan which reaches out to different communities.

She did not offer any specific explanation why some categories went down, citing differing opinions among the respondents.

Talledo said that they already submitted the results of the survey to NCRPO.

Philippine National Police Spokesperson C/Supt. John Bulalacao said they would take criticisms to the survey as a "challenge" to improve.

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Bulalacao said the positive results of the survey, done amid public outrage due to several incidents last year involving Caloocan City police officers, were due to "drastic changes" by Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

He noted Dela Rosa relieved the entire Caloocan police force amid questions over the killing of teenagers.

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"I hope if ever there will be another police station that will not be performing well, the same will be undertaken by the Philippine National Police," Bulalacao told ANC's Headstart.

Bulalacao admitted that President Rodrigo Duterte's statements expressing support to the police officers even when they err emboldens them and makes them irresponsible.

"Somehow, nakatulong yun because whenever the President says something to that effect, human as we are, the members of the Philippine National Police are getting emboldened. Nagiging mas malakas ang loob nila to the point na minsan, nagiging hindi na sila responsible in what they are doing, just like what happened in Caloocan when Kian Delos Santos became victim of these police shooting incident," he said.

The police force was initially tapped to lead the war against drugs, but the responsibility was removed twice after cops were tagged in the death of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo, and then in the spate of killings of Caloocan teens.- with Trishia Billones, ABS-CBN News