‘Balik Paaralan’ ensures safety of students

President Arroyo expressed satisfaction with the security measures undertaken by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to ensure the safety of some 22 million students trooping to the different schools in Metro Manila for the first day of classes of the new term.

In Malacañang yesterday, NCRPO Chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco briefed the President on the steps implemented by the Metro Manila police as part of "Oplan Balik Paaralan," particularly the all-out offensive against street criminals preying on students and lurking around the vicinity of the schools in the metropolis as well as the close coordination undertaken with various organizations in the community.

As part of "Oplan Balik Paaralan," General Velasco started to conduct inspections in schools around Manila to make sure security arrangement are in place, particularly in the University-Belt and the Intramuros areas.

Mrs. Arroyo was please with the NCRPO’s move to further strengthen the partnership with the community in the war against criminality, particularly for the opening of classes when felons-cellular phone snatchers and robbers-are known to victimize students.

The anti-crime aspect of the operation, General Velasco said, is to ensure that the youth are protected from hooligans and that their need not worry about the safety of their children the moment they step out on the streets of Metro Manila.

The NCRPO director said that special focus will be made, in terms of heightened police visibility, in kidnap-prone schools and the different districts have been alarmed against the occurence of fraternity related incidents in colleges in colleges and universities.

Aside from the deployment of NCRPO personnel, particularly Huli Agad operatives, the Metro Manila police has tapped the assistance of the barangay officials as well as the 160,000-strong Philippine Association of Detective and Protective Agency Operators (PADPAO) to ensure the safety of the students and has coordinated with the school administrations to aptly meet the security requirement of each institution. – Non Alquitran