Metro police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco said the provision of additional logistical support to the Metro Manila police force is an indication of President Arroyo’s sincere commitment to provide the citizenry a strong republic through a relentless drive against lawless elements.
"The support given by the national government is vital to the all-out drive against criminality in Metro Manila and will be used in further intensifying police operations towards a secure metropolis," Velasco said.
Among the equipment given to the Metro Manila police are: 3,000 pieces of firearms; bomb suits; 12 mobile patrol units; 1,044 radio communication devices; and other anti-terrorism gear, all worth an estimated P219, 535,920.
In the anti-street crime front, the NCRPO is currently targeting 23 criminal syndicates operating in the northern part of Metro Manila; 35 street gangs in Manila; 20 crime groups in Quezon City; and 10 gangs in the Eastern portion of the metropolis. Only the Southern Police District (SPD) has no active crime group involved in carnapping, robbery, and cellular phone snatching.
The Northern Police District (NPD), headed by Senior Superintendent Marcelino Franco, has been tasked to purge its jurisdiction of members of the: Notorious Tribe, the ESQ Gang Fraternity; the Bulabog Gang, Otcho Hudas, Batang Suwail, Dampalit MS, Loco Ocho, 8 Kastigo, Samahan ng mga Batang Suwail, Junior Bulabog, True Mapia Brothers, Vampires, Virus, Rugby Boys, Kabaong, and Tribes vs. Tribes.
The Western Police District (WPD), led by Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong, has launched a saturation drive against members of the Bolt Cutter Gang, the Bukas Kotse/Salisi/Canares Group, Miranda Group, Melchor Paredes Group, Armin Nuqui Group, Harry Cabe Group, Noel Recana Group, Fake Ring Deal, Baklas Gang, Forex/Kotong Gang, Junior Buang Gang, Oscar Villanueva Group, Fagad Sarip Group, Bolanos Gang, Cellphone Gang, Tir-tir Gang, Pangan Group, Rico Group, Del Pan Group, Popoy Group, Racub Gang, and Rivas Gang.
In Quezon City, Central Police District Office (CPDO) Director Senior Superintendent Napoleon Castro and his men has launched operations against the Boy Harurot gang, Allan Group, Ignacio Group, Hernandez Robbery/Hold-up Group, Arsenio/Waray Group, Bolt Cutter/Nitong Group, Stick-at-Jobs Group, Lakay Group, Japok Group, Abel Group, Salakot/Waray Group, Agimat Group, Eva Group, Orig Group, Ronnie Guillera Group, Antonio Cajudo Group, and the Bernardo FX Robbery/Hold-up Group.
At the Eastern Police District, headed by Chief Superintendent Rolando Sacramento, pursuit has been enforced against members of the Torrecampo Group, Tropang Sampaloc, Buboy Putol Gang, Gwaping Gang, Carding Alvarez Gang, SM Group, San Pedro Gang, Karera Gang, Benjie Group, and the Budol-Budol Gang.
He pointed out that with 1,611 barangays in Metro Manila, tapping barangay tanods as force multipliers of the NCRPO will make up for the large disparity of police to citizen ratio in the metropolis. The NCRPO only has a force of 17,000 personnel to secure approximately 10 million residents in Metro Manila.
As part of the campaign, the NCRPO has been coordinating with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) in a series of meetings aimed at reinforcing the security measures set up in the metropolitan rail transportation systems, airports, seaports, and telecommunications facilities.
General Velasco said that a preemptive system is now in place to thwart any plot being hatched by lawless elements even before they are able to enter the premises of the different vital installations including: the Light Rail Transit, the Metro Rail Transit, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport , the Manila Domestic Airport, bus terminals, the piers, as well as cellular sites, and other telecommunications towers. – Non Alquitran