To Curb Criminality: NCRPO to beef up patrol beats

Newly-appointed Metro Manila police chief Director Romeo Peña called for the strengthening of the patrol and detective beats to combat criminality in the metropolis, particularly bank robberies and kidnapping.

Peña also warned district and station commanders to pursue with vigor the directive of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Deputy Director General Leandro Mendoza to completely stop jueteng in their jurisdiction or face relief.

In his first command conference Thursday, Peña said he would continue all the programs and projects of his predecessor, Director Edgar Aglipay, especially the campaign against inept, corrupt and undisciplined (ICU) cops.

"It will be back to basics for us," said Chief Superintendent Manuel Cabigon, Southern Police District (SPD) director. "We are trying to determine whether the patrol and detective beats would be enough to curb bigtime criminal syndicates."

Under Peña’s operational plan, the police would identify crime-prone areas in Metro Manila and deploy more men to patrol the beat, said Chief Superintendent Simeon Dizon Jr., Eastern Police District (EPD) director.

In a new detective beat system, a station command in Metro Manila will be divided into four areas and a follow-up team is assigned to each to identify criminal gangs and arrest them, said Dizon.

Both Dizon and Cabigon have already met with their station commanders on how to implement Peña’s strategy.

Although Peña’s method still has to be proven, his subordinates are hoping for the best, amid reports that supporters of some candidates in the coming May 14 elections have engaged in bank robberies and other major crimes to raise campaign funds.

According to Cabigon, Peña wants jueteng to be completely stopped in Metro Manila. He said the Church, non-government organizations and media would play a very important role in the police anti-jueteng drive.

"Aside from the prevailing no take policy, we are also enjoined to implement the no jueteng policy," said Dizon.

Dizon pointed out that upon complaint by any citizen of the presence of jueteng, the PNP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government would conduct a thorough probe and confront the police official concerned before effecting his relief.

The 37 station commanders were advised to go to the extent of talking to jueteng financiers to make them stop the illegal numbers game once and for all, he said.

By March 1, the DILG and the PNP would start yanking out station commanders whom they believe failed to completely stop jueteng in their areas of responsibility. - Non Alquitran