MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 8, 2014) – Some 900 police recruits will be deployed next month in Metro Manila in an effort to help deter crimes, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said.
He said the decision to deploy police recruits in Metro Manila’s crime-prone areas agreed upon by him and Police Director General Alan Purisima, and National Capital Region Police Director Mel Valmoria.
“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. Kailangan natin ng isang full court press, kung baga sa basketball, laban sa mga kriminal na ito, organisado man o hindi,” Roxa said.
He said Purisima and Valmoria told him there is at least 100 policemen from the Regional Public Safety Battalion at the National Capital Region which will be tapped to assist the local police forces in the the establishment or regular checkpoints and choke points in selected and strategic areas of the Metropolis.
Roxas said he directed the police officials to tap the services of a select group of personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Intelligence Group to go after members of notorious crime groups operating in Metro Manila.
“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-IG,” he said.
He said there must be a complete mapping of the crime-prone areas and appropriate profiling of members of crime groups.
“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.
At least 21 villages in Metro Manila had been declared as “crime-prone” areas in 2012 because it registered the highest number of crimes. These villages are located in Caloocan City; Malabon City; Navotas City; Valenzuela City; Marikina City; Pasig City; Mandaluyong City; San Juan City; Pasay City; Makati City; Paranaque City, Las Pinas City; Muntinlupa City and Taguig City.
20