Caloocan steps up police patrols

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri has assured the safety of students, saying members of the Caloocan City police were not only patrolling the schools, but also transport terminals and commercial centers.

Echiverri said the city’s Peace and Order Council is aware that criminal elements are not only targeting schools with the influx of commuters in different bus terminals and shoppers during the resumption of classes.

Police have utilized all available personnel and resources to prevent and control the commission of crimes by conducting intensified security operations at bus terminals, schools and commercial centers.

The mayor said the police force, in cooperation with the Reformed Department of Public Safety and Traffic Management (RDPSTM), has deployed traffic enforcers and covert and overt security personnel.

He added Caloocan City police chief Senior Superintendent Leo Garra has also conducted clustered dialogues with officials of different schools and other learning institutions in the city to determine the best measures to adopt.

The city police also briefed the security officers and guards of the bus terminals, schools and commercial centers on the security preparation with emphasis on the operational concept.

He further said a seminar on the security measures against terrorist acts such as bombings and kidnappings was given to security officers and guards.

Echiverri said there is a need to intensify the implementation of "Oplan Balik-Paaralan" to ensure that the students will not be victimized by holduppers and snatchers.

"It is better to prevent the crime than waiting for it to happen," he said.

Echiverri said the police should plan their duty schedule and divide among their personnel the areas to be secured in order to systematically round the schools.

There are 180 schools in the city, 85 of which are public and 95 private.