Metro police target zero gang, frat wars

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) would seek the help of local government units (LGUs) to attain its target of zero gang and frat wars in schools this year.

NCRPO chief Director Vidal Querol would meet with mayors, engineers and permit division chiefs of the 17 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila to seek their help in combatting criminality in the vicinity of schools.

"We would like to keep all streets around schools well-lighted so criminals would not prey on students, especially those coming from the provinces," said Querol.

The NCRPO has deployed 353 personnel to its five police districts to increase police visibility and strengthen security in Manila, Makati City and Quezon City.

According to Querol, more attention would be given to the security of foreign schools in Makati City and Pasig City to avoid an "international embarassment."

Records from Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., NCRPO’s intelligence chief showed that three gang and frat wars occured in Metro Manila last year. They also recorded 353 mugging incidents the whole year.

However, for the first four months of the year, Rojas pointed out that there was no gang or frat war recorded as yet. "We are right on target of our goal for a zero gang and frat war this year," he said.

Querol noted that the high incidence of mugging was due to dark streets not only in the vicinity of schools but also in other parts of the city.

On Tuesday, Querol would meet with LGUs, engineers and permit division chiefs of the Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas and Valenzuela City (Camanava) to seek their help in curbing criminality in schools.

The engineers would be asked to see to it that all streets are well-lighted and permit division heads would be requested not to grant permits to amusement centers operating near schools.

He emphasized that the LGUs would release funds for this purpose.

According to Querol, he would also asked cyber cafe operators to limit the stay of students in their establishments. "Concerned parents complained that their sons and daughters are spending longer hours in amusement centers and cyber cafe’s so its about time we do something about this problem," he said.

The Metro police chief said he would ask amusement centers and cyber cafe’s operators to relocate their businesses away from schools.

"I would like our students to spend their time in classrooms rather than in these establishments," he added.