Metro police on heightened alert for opening of classes

Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol has placed the National Capital Region police force on heightened alert status to ensure a trouble-free opening of classes today.

"Effective noon Sunday, the entire Metro Manila police will be on heightened alert. The upgrading of the alert is to ensure zero crimes during the opening of classes," Querol said.

He ordered all 37 police station commanders in Metro Manila to observe and implement anti-crime measures, particularly near universities and schools.

"Conduct an anti-crime sweep on known criminal hot spots today and into the night," the Metro police chief, who noted that local police will be coordinating with the Traffic Management Group (TMG) to ensure the smooth flow of traffic at the University Belt.

The TMG will implement Operational Plan Balik Paaralan, which involves a traffic direction and control as well as assistance to motorists.

TMG director Chief Superintendent Errol Pan said a number of personnel would also be fielded along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

The deployment of TMG personnel in NLEX and SLEX will be done in coordination with other government agencies and non-governmental organizations.

"Monitor arrival of students and commuters from the province until tomorrow morning. Deploy student assistance desks in schools. Prevent crime on students with force multipliers and tanods," Querol ordered his men.

He also reminded the local police, particularly the Manila Police District to anticipate mass actions to protest tuition increases.

Meanwhile, NPD director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil directed his four police chiefs to step up visibility patrols and set up checkpoints on identified crime hot spots in the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area.

The NPD doubled the deployment of uniformed and non-uniformed personnel at bus terminals to monitor the arrival of passengers on a 24-hour basis.

"This is part of our crime prevention effort to achieve zero crimes for the start of classes," Bataoil said.

He personally inspected crime prevention measures of his men in the northern metropolis as he also ordered police officials to conduct ocular inspections on crime prone areas in their jurisdiction.

The NPD tapped the assistance of all support groups in Camanava, including the Northern Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (NCIDG), the Northern District Traffic Enforcement Group (NDTEG), and barangay tanods to ensure a a peaceful and crime-free opening of classes.

The NPD, in coordination with school officials and students council officers, put up student assistance desks at all 254 schools in the northern part of Metro Manila and is also set to create a student crime prevention committee.

Bataoil said the NPD has at least 1,500 more men ready on call if the need arises. – With Pete Laude, Kris Rodette Belanizo