WPD cops told: Clear sidewalks or else...

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza warned yesterday all police station commanders in the city that he would hold them responsible for failure to carry out his directive to "liberate" sidewalks of major thoroughfares and keep them free of illegal structures.

Atienza ordered Chief Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos, Western Police District Director, and Police Superintendent Juanito de Guzman, WPD Station 11 commander, to relieve the members of the Police Community Precinct at the corner of Ilaya street and Juan Luna street in Divisoria after he personally saw road obstructions, which he had ordered cleared earlier, still there.

To make matters worse for the cops at the precinct, Atienza also discovered that they had even built a shed as an extension of their precinct along a portion of Juna Luna Street.

This made Atienza believe that instead of clearing the area of illegal structures, the cops themselves have added to the problem.

"I talked to the people in the area and they confirmed that the policemen were doing nothing to maintain order. To make matters worse, they even put up a shed right there on the street, which blocks traffic. Police station 11 is less than a block away so they are not needed there," Atienza pointed out to De Guzman, who was also warned that he would be held accountable if the area is not cleared immediately.

Atienza also said that he was putting all police station commanders on notice and warned that he would order their relief if they do not strictly implement his directive to clear sidewalks along major thoroughfares of illegal obstructions.

He also warned owners of commercial establishments that they face sanctions, including the revocation of their permits, if they insist on maintaining illegal structures that encroach on sidewalks.

During yesterday’s inspection in Divisoria, Atienza discovered that an electric generator of a fast-food chain branch along Ilaya Street had encroached on the sidewalk, and ordered it removed immediately.

He also asked officers of a volunteer fire brigade whose headquarters encroach on Juan Luna Street right beside the police community precinct, to dismantle the structure immediately.