South Korea donates 130 patrol cars to PNP

Albayalde said the units will be distributed to the Directorate for Investigation and Detection Management, Criminal Investigation and Detective Group, Anti-Kidnapping Group, Anti-Cybercrime Group, and NCRPO. (PNA photo)

MANILA — The South Korean government donated 130 patrol cars to the Philippine National Police (PNP) through a program of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday witnessed the turnover of 49 units of Hyundai Elantra and 81 units of Starex Van together with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Peace and Order, Bernardo Florece Jr., South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-Man and Commissioner General of Korea National Police Agency Lee Chul-Sung.

Also present during the turnover and blessing rites were Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel, Jr and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) head Director Camilo Pancratius Cascolan.

Albayalde said the units will be distributed to the Directorate for Investigation and Detection Management, Criminal Investigation and Detective Group, Anti-Kidnapping Group, Anti-Cybercrime Group, and NCRPO.

He added these patrol cars will be distributed also to the City Police Offices of Angeles, Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Davao and Baguio to bolster anti-criminality and police visibility efforts where South Korean communities are established.

On July 12, 2017, the KOICA project accord has been signed between the PNP and South Korean Embassy on enhancing the criminal investigation capability of the PNP as the first cooperative project between Seoul and Manila.