By ELLSON QUISMORIO | September 13, 2010, 3:47pm
MANILA, Philippines – Spurred by the spate of robberies that have hounded Metro Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Monday it will set up more checkpoints and chokepoints at strategic areas in the metropolis.
Chief Supt. Leocadio Santiago Jr., NCRPO director, said the move is also part of the plan to increase police presence in the metropolis to deter criminals with the arrival of the Christmas season.
“I have already ordered that additional checkpoints be set up at areas leading to malls, bus terminals, airports, schools, ports, churches, parks and other places that people tend to congregate, especially with the advent of the Christmas season,” Santiago said.
Police operatives in the checkpoints will be headed by a Police Inspector, the NCRPO chief said.
The cops will use Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems and K-9 units to detect drugs, explosives and contraband.
The CCTV would document the conduct of the police officers to ensure the motorists’ rights are respected while the K-9 units would be used to sniff for any “hot” items.
Santiago gave the order for increase police visibility after Sunday night’s robbery at a fast food outlet in Libis, Quezon City, wherein the perpetrators carted away P150,000 in earnings.
Last Friday, commuters aboard a passenger bus were held up in Mandaluyong City while robbers also struck in Taytay, Rizal and Las Piñas City last week.
“We expect criminals to be more active as the holiday season draws nearer, that’s why we are already making proactive measures. I have already ordered my district commanders to be more alert against criminal syndicates,” said Santiago.
Aside from uniformed cops, the NCRPO chief said plainclothes detectives would also be deployed to protect passengers of buses and other transport systems, specifically from thieves and pickpockets.
At the same time, Santiago appealed to the public to cooperate with the police in guarding against criminals.
Among the areas that are usually teeming with criminals during Christmas season are the Cubao district and Litex-Commonwealth in Quezon City; Quiapo and Divisoria in Manila; Bagong Silang in Caloocan City and Baclaran in Parañaque City.
The NCRPO is also planning to have a meeting with business establishment owners, bus drivers and transport operators to discuss security measures to be implemented this holiday season.
NCRPO spokesman Senior Supt. Dionard Carlos said the meeting aims to lower crime rates that usually go up during the holiday season.
Carlos said the NCRPO chief wanted to remind traders and bus drivers about the importance of taking security measures especially during the “ber” months.
He said the NCRPO wanted to update business owners and bus drivers as well as bus operators on the preventive measures to deter crimes.
Among the preventive measures that Santiago wanted to carry out and suggest to bus operators and drivers was to avoid overloading their vehicles which the NCRPO said is a situation that could be exploited by thieves.
Carlos said they wanted to advise bus drivers and operators where robbers usually position themselves before staging a holdup.
He also said one possible solution to avoid robbery holdup inside passenger buses was not to allow passengers in the aisles.
“We will not give them any opportunity to carry out their illegal activities,” Carlos said.
The NCRPO also wanted to hear the views of bus drivers and operators on the plan to assign marshals inside buses.
Carlos said the NCRPO also wanted to know the security measures being implemented in malls and banks so that the police could map out supplementary protective measures.
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