DILG orders PNP to deploy 900 recruits in NCR’s crime-prone areas

Philippine National Police mass oath-taking. File photo courtesy of PNP on Facebook.

MANILA — To intensify the peace-and-order situation in the crime prone areas in Metro Manila, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Thursday announced that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy early next month some 900 new police recruits to help deter crime in metropolis.

“Kailangan nating lalong paigtingin ang kampanya laban sa kriminalidad dito sa Metro Manila kung saan maraming naiu-ulat na kaganapan na tulad ng robbery/hold-up, pickpocketing, snatching, at iba pang petty crimes (We need to further intensify the campaign against criminality in Metro Manila where many reported crimes such as robbery / hold-up, pickpocketing, snatching and other petty crimes),” Roxas said during the meeting with PNP chief Director General Allan Purisima, and NCRPO chief Director Mel Valmoria at the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

“Kailangan natin ng isang full court press, kung baga sa basketball, laban sa mga kriminal na ito, organisado man o hindi (Just like basketball we need full court press against these crime groups, organized or not),” he added.

During the meeting, Purisima and Valmoria said there is also at least one company (100 personnel) from NCR’s Regional Public Safety Battalion which will be tapped to assist the local police forces in the implementation of Oplan Lambat or the establishment or regular checkpoints/chokepoints in select, strategic areas of the Metropolis.

Roxas directed the PNP officials present in the meeting to tap the services of a select group of personnel from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the PNP Intelligence Group to go after members of notorious crime groups operating in NCR.

“We lack enough manpower from the local police forces in Metro Manila and we need to augment them in their crime investigation and detection work by tapping the services of the PNP CIDG and the PNP DI,” he said.

The DILG chief said there must be a complete mapping of the crime prone areas and appropriate profiling of members of crime groups involved in those criminal activities.

“We are going to hold responsible or accountable any police district officials and their local chiefs of police if a crime wave will persist in their respective areas of jurisdiction,” Roxas said.

In August 2012, the NCRPO, then under Purisima, has declared 21 places in Metro Manila as “crime-prone” areas that registered the highest number of crimes like theft, robbery and physical injuries in the first six months of said year.

The NCR’s 21 crime-prone areas include those under the jurisdiction of Police Community Precinct 10 in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City; PCP 4 in Barangay Tugatog, Malabon City; PCP 4 in North Bay Boulevard South, Navotas City; PCP 3 in Marulas, Valenzuela City; PCP 2 in Sto. Niño, Marikina City; PCP 4 in Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City; PCP 2 in Plainview, Mandaluyong City; PCP 1 in Greenhills, San Juan City; PCP 6 in Barangay Sto. Niño, Pasay City; PCP 6 in Ayala, Makati City; PCP 1 in Baclaran, Parañaque City, PCP 3 in Barangay Pamplona, Las Piñas City; PCP 2 in Alabang, Muntinlupa City and PCP 4 in Signal Village, Taguig City.

The current NCRPO leadership is currently assessing and updating developments in said 21 crime-prone areas in their bid to reduce or combat crime in Metro Manila.

For his part, Valmoria advised the public to be always alert and be cautious with their valuable belongings when mingling with crowded areas.

In soliciting public participation and cooperation in busting street crimes, he encouraged the public to report immediately any security concern and information to the police for immediate crime solution and crime prevention.