Naktaf to set up more checkpoints

President Arroyo ordered yesterday more police and military checkpoints on the streets in provinces surrounding Metro Manila.

Apparently encouraged by the initial success of the checkpoints in the government’s intensified drive against kidnapping in Metro Manila, Mrs. Arroyo directed National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (Naktaf) chief Angelo Reyes to extend the checkpoints to Central Luzon and the Southern Tagalog regions.

Reyes said the checkpoints and other security measures imposed in Metro Manila since an upsurge of ransom kidnappings last month had been a "resounding success."

The President revived the Naktaf to carry out a vigorous crackdown on high-profile crime following a resurgence of kidnap-for-ransom cases victimizing mostly Chinese-Filipinos.

"These encouraging results have prompted the President to issue the directives that such security measures would be expanded to Regions 3 and 4," Reyes said.

Reyes declared the police have reported a dramatic decrease in kidnappings and other crimes after the checkpoints were set up.

More than 6,000 policemen and 1,000 soldiers manned checkpoints in Metro Manila earlier this month, which observers noted, reduced crime incidents dramatically.

Manila and the two other regions account for about 55 percent of the country’s economic output and 39 percent of the national population, official figures show.

"These security measure have been met, I would say, with resounding success and more appreciation and recognition not only from the business but the citizenry at large," Reyes said.

"We’re working on it and the statistics will bear our statements that the situation has dramatically improved," he added.

Reyes explained the same setup will now be implemented in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Aurora, Zambales and Bataan.

Checkpoints manned by both police and military personnel will also be deployed in the provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Quezon, Batangas and Rizal. – With AFP