PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has ordered police units to step up police presence in malls, transport hubs and other places of convergence to ensure peace and order with the onset of the “ber” months.
“With the start of the ‘ber’ months, we are expecting more economic activities…so the PNP will intensify police visibility and presence in these areas,” PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said in a radio interview yesterday.
“In relation to that, our chief PNP has given orders to our commander, through their respective regional directors, to deploy (to these areas) policemen who are (presently) rendering admin(istrative) duties,” Fajardo added.
Fajardo said policemen performing administrative duties “are now required to render patrol duties.”
She said elite police units, including the Special Action Force, will be also deployed to help in the anti-criminality drive, especially in Metro Manila.
“(We want) to make sure that as the holiday season approaches, we will be able to sustain police visibility, particularly in areas where crimes are likely to happen,” said Fajardo.
Some 85 personnel from the Reaction Standby Support Force of the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame have been ordered to augment the National Capital Region Police Office to sustain police presence in Metro Manila.
“This is also part of our preparation for the upcoming All Saint’s and All Soul’s Day holidays. We’re helping ensure security in populated areas,” Azurin said in a statement.
“They will complement the implementation of the security measures until the last quarter of the year,” added Azurin, referring to the 85 policemen.
Azurin said there is higher demand for security in various areas due to the anticipated higher volume of people brought about by the easing of COVID-19 protocols.
“We have eased the protocols compared to the previous years, so there is higher demand for security protocols to be in place to make sure that the general public will not be complacent against possible crime incidents,” he said.
