More SPD undercover policemen deployed

Snatchers and thieves are now likely to find lawmen mingling with crowds and their potential victims in Metro Manila as policemen in plainclothes have been dispatched to complement deployed uniformed cops.

Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Superintendent Jose Guttierez said the deployment of undercover policemen is part of the instructions of returning National Capital Region Police Office head Director Edgar Aglipay for increased police presence.

But with the shortage of police personnel Guttierez said lawmen assigned to desk jobs would also be asked to go out on the streets until 10 a.m. before assuming their normal duties.

"Aside from those personnel who are performing vital functions, all the others will be sent out. The idea is to keep as many policemen as possible on the streets during busy hours," he said.

The SPD director identified some crime-prone areas in his jurisdiction as Baclaran, Pasay Rotonda, the MRT stations on EDSA, and portions of C5 road.

The SPD only has 2,600 policemen while the ideal is twice that figure in proportion to the district’s population.

Meanwhile, the SPD has also warned its men against granting interviews to the press.

Following complaints from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the recent suicide of one of its officials in Makati City, the SPD cautioned case investigators against giving interviews to mediamen that could sensationalize news stories.

In a memorandum dated Nov. 8, Guttierez, ordered all chiefs of police of the district‘s seven cities and municipalities to tell their men to shut their mouths especially around news men.

"In case of incidents undergoing investigation, information released to the press must emanate only from the District Director or his duly appointed Public Information Officer," said the memorandum signed by SPD head for operations Superintendent Jose Gentiles in behalf of Guttierez.

"On several occasions, the PNP (Philippine National Police) leadership had been placed in embarrassing positions… where investigators voice out their own speculations during interviews with the press," added the order, "The RD (regional director) desires that we solve the case first before we start talking."

"They (JICA officials) just do not like their names being mentioned in the newspapers," said Guttierez. – Jose Aravilla