New police tactic: Video cameras vs bus robberies

Adopting a new tack, Makati City cops are using video cameras in a new campaign aimed at curbing bus robberies in southern Metro Manila.

The campaign, dubbed "Oplan Video Sita," is a brainchild of Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales.

The idea calls for three police teams tasked to randomly board buses and take video clips of passengers as well as the driver and the conductor.

Makati police chief Superintendent Gilbert Cruz said the new crime prevention project is initially being implemented in his locality and will eventually be duplicated in Muntinlupa, Pasay, Parañaque, and Taguig.

"Oplan Video Sita works like our Oplan Photo Sita against motorcycle riders. Our operatives are deployed. They board buses in random and take videos," he explained.

"We keep the video on record for three days. If a robbery or holdup takes place, we will look into the videos and have victims look at them for possible identification of the suspects," he said.

Cruz said Oplan Video Sita will be a very effective deterrent against crime particularly against bus holdups since criminal syndicates will think twice before doing it in Makati.

"I created three teams, each composed of four police officers and each with a video camera. We do not announce where they are or where they will be," he told The Star.

Cruz said the project also enhances the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) police visibility campaign because there will be more uniformed policemen in the streets.

"We are encouraging bus companies to support this drive by purchasing their own video cameras. The idea is to take videos of their passengers before, in between, and after each trip. We will assist them," he said.

Cruz, knowing that some commuters may react negatively, called on the public to support Oplan Video Sita, emphasizing that "it’s for them."

Provincial buses pass through southern Metro Manila which some criminals take advantage of by announcing the holdup before entering the metropolis and jumping off before it reaches its destination or terminal.

Some commuters have been complaining of how some bus companies tend not to report holdup incidents for fear of losing loyal passengers due to bad publicity.

Cruz encouraged bus operators to back the police up in its effort to make mass public transportation safer.