NCRPO to remove TV sets in Metro police stations

Previously, TV sets in the lobby of police stations and police community precincts (PCPs) in the metropolis were aimed at providing the public some form of entertainment as they wait for their turn to be given assistance. (Pexels Photo)

MANILA – National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, has ordered the removal of television sets in open areas of their headquarters and sub-stations to ensure the cops on duty fully concentrate on attending to people seeking assistance from the police stations.

The five districts covered by the NCRPO are the Manila Police District, the Quezon City Police District, the Northern Police District, the Southern Police District, and the Eastern Police District.

“Nagconduct kami ng study at discreet lang ito na pinamunuan ng aming RID [Regional Intelligence Division]. Nung papasok [na] yung mga tinatawag naming mga discreet personnel to ask assistance doon sa mga desk officers namin, medyo hindi naasikaso kasi nakatingin yung mga desk officers sa mga television, ayaw paistorbo, kaya nagkaroon ng maling assessment at pagtanggap sa mga customers, kaya pinatanggal muna namin yun. Ito rin ay para protektuhan yung image ng aming mga desks at harapan ng mga police stations (We conducted a study and it was discreet led by our RID. When our discreet personnel came in to ask our desk officers for assistance, they were a bit ignored because our desk officers were looking at the television. So there was wrong assessment and wrong manner in dealing with customers. So we removed the television, this is also to protect the image of our front desk officers and the police stations),” Okubo said in a TV interview on Friday

Previously, TV sets in the lobby of police stations and police community precincts (PCPs) in the metropolis were aimed at providing the public some form of entertainment as they wait for their turn to be given assistance.

This time, the TV sets that will be removed from the lobby of police stations and community precincts will be transferred to other parts of the area, like the mess halls.

Okubo said everyone should follow instructions as inspections will continue.

He said female cops have been assigned at the station’s front desks in connection with this campaign and policy,

“Naniniwala kami na ang aming mga kababaihang pulis ay may pasensiya (We believe that our female cops have the patience), the capability to listen to complaints, amiable, and of course, more compassionate para mas magustuhan ng ating mga customers yung pagpasok sa istasyon dahil mabait at mas nagbibigay ng assistance yung mga female officers namin (so that our customers will like entering the station more because our female officers are kind and give more assistance),” he added.

The Metro Manila top cop explained that the NCRPO has sufficient number of female police officers who could be tapped to be police customer relations officers, noting that the PNP allocates at least 10 percent of the quota for females.

Male officers that would be replaced, according to Okubo, will be deployed in the field in order to maximize the police presence on the streets and the communities in Metro Manila.

Okubo also ordered Metro Manila cops not to use their cell phones to send text messages or check their social media accounts while on duty.

“Minsan napansin n’yo sa isang grupo ng kapulisan, halos nakatungo lahat, di sila aware sa nangyayari [sa kapaligiran]. Delikado yun sa naka-deploy (You may have noticed that sometimes a group of policemen were all looking down at their mobile phones. It means they are not aware of their surroundings. That’s dangerous). They should be aware of the entire surroundings in their areas of responsibility,” he said.