Roxas coordinating with telcos for police hotline

MANILA, Philippines - Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II is coordinating with telecommunication networks to set aside dedicated numbers to serve as “tip lines” for the public against criminality.

Roxas said the public could send information to the numbers and action by the police is assured.

“We will be providing numbers where the public can text actionable leads or information which the police can use to start investigation or follow-up operations,” Roxas said.

Roxas said the public could also send a message about their complaints that need immediate police action.

He said the identity of tipsters would remain confidential.

“We will not require tipsters to disclose their names and identity, all we need is the details of the information about the illegal activity and specific location so the police can immediately respond,” he said.

Roxas said the hotlines would be established in his office at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame.

He said his office would serve as a command post that will have a direct link to all police units across the country.

Roxas also called on barangay officials to assist the local police in its anti-crime campaign, as he directed the PNP to step up its campaign on crime prevention by deploying more policemen for patrol in communities and by working closely with barangay officials.

He also urged village chiefs to fully activate their respective Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams to serve as force multipliers in the maintenance of peace and order and public safety.

Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), on the other hand, will set up 76 checkpoints in Metro Manila starting today to check the rising wave of criminality. At present, each of the 38 police stations in Metro Manila is implementing checkpoint operations in their jurisdiction but PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima noted it is not enough to curb criminality in the metropolis. – With Non Alquitran, Marvin Sy