By Romie A. Evangelista

The National Police?s public trust rating rose from 22 percent in 2006 to 49 percent in 2008, based on the latest Social Weather Stations survey, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said yesterday.

But Puno said the survey results should inspire the police to push harder and implement a Transformation Program to win the confidence of the entire Filipino nation.

?While some surveys will tell you that half of the population now trust the police, the other half still view the men and women of the force with fear and distrust,? Puno said.

The survey also means that half of the Filipino population would rather keep quiet in the face of a crime than report the incident to the police because of fear they will get themselves into trouble, Puno said.

?They still believe that more policemen would want to extort money from them rather than help them,? Puno said.

On a more positive note, assistant secretary Brian Yamsuan said the increased public trust rating came as the latest indication that efforts of the Interior Department and the police brass to rid the police ranks of scalawags are paying off.

In 2006, after Puno took over as Interior secretary, the SWS surveys placed the National Police?s public trust rating at only 22 percent. ?Now, we have a 49-percent trust rating. It means the transformation program is working,? Yamsuan said.

Puno said much had been accomplished after the police force?s moral transformation program was launched three years ago to win back the trust and confidence of the people.

?For this, we must congratulate Director General Jesus Verzosa for spearheading the program and brilliantly bringing it to where it is today,? Puno said.

Verzosa said the transformation program is the roadmap to change for the better and the National Police is close to achieving its goal.