100 tourist cops deployed to Ortigas business district

At least 100 tourist policemen were deployed yesterday to Mandaluyong City’s Ortigas business district, one of the country’s more prominent economic hubs.

Metro police chief Director Ricardo de Leon said the tourist cops and the Metro East Coordinating Council, composed of security officers of malls and business establishments in the Mandaluyong area, will secure the Ortigas business district from terrorists and criminals.

De Leon said the deployment of tourist-oriented police (TOP COP) to the area will effectively strengthen the security barrier against crime and terrorism earlier established through a partnership between the community and the police.

"The development of such a defense is vital to the success of our overall effort in maintaining peace and order in the metropolis," the Metro police chief said as he reiterated that the alliance with the community has always been viewed by the PNP as an essential component of the war against all forms of criminality.

The formal launching of the tourist police force was witnessed by Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela, director of the Eastern Police District and other top EPD officials.

Aside from the peace and order aspect, the TOP COP program will greatly contribute to President Arroyo’s 10-point program, pertaining to the generation of jobs.

"More tourists means more jobs for majority of our countrymen," De Leon pointed out.

The tourist police shall implement a sustained crime prevention program anchored on a round-the-clock visibility program for a no-nonsense, zero-tolerance enforcement of laws and ordinances in the different localities where tourists thrive.

"The operatives will also focus on implementing anti-littering and jaywalking ordinances as well as anti-illegal vending and anti-vandalism laws," De Leon said.